Even if you're not an actor
I'm a theatre major, but I'm not an actor. I've never been, actually. But one of the requirements is to take an acting course, which put me in a pinch.
We study this book in class, and this book is great, even for people who know nothing about acting. It really does do a good job for making it easy to understand.
Clear, DO-ABLE instruction
Ok. When you're studying an art, like acting, it is sometimes frustrating to hear people talk about "craft" and "technique" without getting really specific about what you must actually DO to achieve such things and develop as an artist. People often talk about art as if it is some vague, nebulous, magical thing. And, I guess, it benefits them to talk about it that way. Because then, everyone respects them immensely for being able to do such a thing, and (like a magician) they don't reveal any of their secrets.
This book pulls the veil away. While I don't necessarily advocate relying ONLY on this resource (instinct, other techniques, etc., should all be in an actor's bag of tricks), this book provides clear, actionable directions on how to achieve more specificity in your choices as an actor, how to make your characters more focused, and how to deliver more compelling performances. Based on Stanislavsky's method, the book advises embodying each line with action (and tells you how), LISTENING to your stage-mates, and thinking about the physicality of a role (and tells you how).
What I like best about this book is that it breaks something complicated, like rendering a complex character, down into manageable things you can do to get yourself there as a performer. Bravo!
A Great Tool for All Actors
This book is great. Most theatre classes and books have you go through lots of exercises without ever telling you the point. Here the book outlines exercises and their purpose. Plus it is a relatively short read so you can come back to it over and over. This is great for both students of the stage and theatrical teachers.
Pick Up and Read!
Hi!Right now I am reading books about the craft of acting. I am learning on my spare time at home about acting in general. This book it's a great tool for beginner or mature actors. I find this little book practical, honest and helpful. So pick up and read this book. You will be glad you did!
Simple and effective!
This is simple straightforward book - I read it in less than two hours. It also details a tried-and-true acting technique. Most of the concepts discussed in this book were not new ones to me, but I've never seen them as concisely and well-expressed as here.But as the book warns, don't close your mind to other techniques. There is merit in other schools of acting, though they are not always obvious at first sight. And above all, to become a good actor, you need to commit yourself and put in the effort. You're not going to become a Meyrl Streep overnight.
(18 reviews)
