Michael Chekhov’s Acting Technique: A Practitioner’s Guide

ISBN-13: 9781408156889 / Angielski / Miękka / 2019 / 360 str.

UK) Rushe Sinead (Central School of Speech and Drama

Opis

Michael Chekhov's Acting Technique: A Practitioner's Guide is a textbook for actors, directors and teachers seeking in-depth analysis and explanation of the Michael Chekhov acting technique. It provides a complete overview of the whole method, offering clear explanations of the principles, practical exercises and application of the exercises to dramatic texts. The book is both a toolkit for practitioners who have not trained in the method, as well as a comprehensive reference book for those who have.Part One explains the concept of pyscho-physical acting with reference to primary texts, interviews with Chekhov practitioners and a range of sample exercises to practise on.
Part Two explores the more detailed work of creating a character with a selection of examples of how to apply the psycho-physical exercises in Part One directly to character or scene work. Also included are a selection of exercises taught by other practitioners (with their permission) that were not developed by Chekhov himself in his book, but which follow his principles and yield great results, such as: the ghost exercise (Joanna Merlin); expanding and contracting the five senses (Lenard Petit); the palace of beauty (Mel Shrawder); the belief closet (Mel Shrawder); and imaginative character biography on your feet (Mel Shrawder).The book features the application of Michael Chekhov principles throughout to characters and scenes in Gabriel Garcia Lorca's Blood Wedding and Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing."

Recenzje

A long-time practitioner of Chekhov's acting technique, Rushe (Central School of Speech and Drama, UK) has delivered a valuable, comprehensive look at many of the acting tools Chekhov pioneered at the turn of the 20th century . Particularly noteworthy is Rushe's creation of a careful pathway through all the material. Each exercise builds on its predecessor in a way that shows the author's attention to detail and mastery of the subject matter . Though aimed at modern practitioners of acting, academics should not shy away from this guide, given its thorough research and its historical relevance. This volume will be a useful resource for those studying acting theory, theater history, or the pedagogy of acting. CHOICE

Spis treści

PrefaceAcknowledgmentsList of AbbreviationsIntroduction: Guiding PrinciplesA Note on the Context of Chekhov's workPart One: Preparation The ideal centre The four brothers: feeling of ease Receiving The four brothers: feeling of form The four brothers: feeling of beauty The four brothers: feeling of entirety Radiating Expansion and contraction Part Two: Practice Qualities of movement: moulding, floating, flying, radiating Further qualities of movement: staccato/legato, curved/straight Directions in space Archetypal gesture The three sisters: rising, falling, balancing Image and imagination Improvisation Transition: TransformationPart Three: Performance Imaginary body Imaginary centre Stick/ball/veil Archetypes Psychological gesture Subjective atmosphere Objective atmosphere Extras: ghost exercise, character biography Conclusion: Theatre of the FutureChronology of Michael Chekhov's Career

O autorze

Sinéad Rushe is a director, performer and acting teacher. One of her recent works, Out of Time, was nominated for a 2010 Olivier Award and 2009 Dance Critic's Circle Award for its London run. Sinéad is a Lecturer in Acting and Movement on the BA (Hons) in Acting at Central School of Speech and Drama, London (CSSD) and teaches the Michael Chekhov Technique for acting teachers and for professional actors and directors (through Living Pictures and The Actor's Centre). She studied the Michael Chekhov technique intensively at the Michael Chekhov Studio in New York and London as well as in Paris. She is the co-translator into French, with Sarah Hirschmuller, of several works by English playwright Howard Barker.