The open-air declaiming, gesturing, singing, and dancing of Roman stage acting required stamina and agility. A Greek theater presents actors declaiming Oedipus Rex. The elf maidens are paraded as potential brides, declaiming their most notable talents. This scheme is frequently used for declaiming other texts which use an "ottava rima" meter. She spent her formative years travelling, playing the piano and declaiming poems. Brando asked John Gielgud for advice in declaiming Shakespeare, and adopted all of Gielgud's recommendations.