1. “Theatre Brief” Cohen and Sherman Chapter Three
THE ACTOR
“Theatre Brief” Cohen and Sherman Chapter Three

2. What is acting?
It is the oldest of the theatrical arts. THESPIS, the first actor, was the author of the plays in which he appeared.
From his name comes the word THESPIAN, another word for actor.

3. Acting is a public art
The average theatregoer can name many actors

4. Two notions of acting
The actor “presents” to the audience in a form that we call “presentational.” It is also called “external” or “technical” acting. The second notion emanates from somewhere “inside” the actor. The actor works honestly and effectively to “live the life of the character.” To feel the emotions. It can be called “representational.” Actors of this school are often “method actors” named for a “system” devised by Konstantin Stanislavski.

5. Konstantin Stanislavski 1863-1938

6. Lee Strasberg
In the United States, the “method” was made popular by the actor Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio in New York City.

7. Presentational actors
Represented by classically-trained British actors

8. Internal vs. external Has been long debated
See text (page 78) for examples from the classical theatre including a passage from Socrates
In the 18th century, French encyclopedist Denis Diderot discussed the differences in his essay “The Paradox of Acting”
At the Moscow Art Theatre, Stanislavski taught that motivation gives meaning to action. And, as such, plays have subtexts the actor needs to understand.

9. Stanislavski’s legacy
Almost all American teachers of acting pay homage to Stanislavski and his “theories” of acting...
Famous American actors trained in the method include...

10. The actor as virtuoso
Greatness in acting, like greatness in almost any endeavor, demands a superb set of skills
In order to play HAMLET, for example, the actor himself needs to embody the genius of the character.
To achieve this virtuosity, the actor must possess two features
An expressive voice
A supple body

11. Magnificent voices
James Earl Jones
Glenn Close

12. Splendid supple bodies
Bill Irwin
Meryl Streep

13. A celebrated virtuoso – Mark Rylance
Bridge of Spies
Shakespeare’s 12th Night
Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem

14. Magic
Beyond conviction and virtuosity, great actors possess “presence” or “magnetism” or “charisma”

15. BECOMING AN ACTOR
Actor training takes place in colleges, universities, conservatories and private and commercial schools

16. Professional actors belong to an actor’s union

17. The actor’s instrument
The self
Mind
Mettle
Metabolism
Training is both physical and psychological
In France and Japan, actors are trained through apprenticeships
All training requires practice, not simple book learning

18. PHYSIOLOGICAL TRAINING
VOICE AND SPEECH
VOICE: breathing, phonation, resonance
SPEECH: articulation, pronunciation, phrasing
PROJECTION

19. MOVEMENT Dance, mime, fencing, acrobatics Relaxation, control, economy
Strength and endurance

20. PSYCHOLOGICAL instrument
Imagination, and willingness and ability to use it in the service of art, are major components of the actor’s psychological instrument
Make the artifice of the theatre real (flats and platforms become streets or mountains)
Place the self in the imagined world of the play (Really fall in love with your acting mate)
Characterize the role with uniqueness and life (liberate the actor’s imagination)

21. Discipline
The fourth and final aspect of the actor’s psychological instrument
Follow the working conditions
Collaborate with fellow artists
Be on time to calls
Stay well and healthy
Train your instrument in exercise or class
Memorize parts before they are due
Work vigorously to develop craft

22. Discipline?

23. Discipline?

24. Discipline?

25. THE ACTOR’S APPROACH
Stanislavski described the actor’s ZADACHA [задача] which also translates to mean objective, task, goal, victory or intention. Each character has a primary goal and several minor goals in the play.

26. THE ACTOR’S APPROACH
Secondly, the actor develops TACTICS necessary to achieve the GOALS

27. THE ACTOR’S APPROACH
Finally, the actor must understand the style of given circumstances of the play and apply it to the role

28. Cohen’s GOTE GOAL. What the character wants
OBJECT (Other). Who does the character want it from?
TACTIC. How does the actor get it?
EXPECTATION. Why does the actor expect to reach the goal?

29. THE ACTOR’S ROUTINE
The audition

30. REHEARSAL

31. Rehearsal process
Plays are in rehearsal for several weeks

32. Rehearsal process At rehearsal, actors learn lines and blocking…
…and explore the characters motivations (goals)

33. Rehearsal process MEMORIZE
…and work on the external elements of timing and delivery

34. Rehearsal process
It is the most creative time for the actor

36. Patrick Stewart, Simon Callow & Ian McKellan
Performance
Patrick Stewart, Simon Callow & Ian McKellan

37. Patrick Stewart in Macbeth

38. ...what the theatre is all about
The excitement of live performance
Philip Seymour Hoffman in DEATH OF A SALESMAN

39. The shift from rehearsal to performance
Now, the actor is aware of his audience...
The audience affects the actor’s timing, delivery and energy

40. Stage vs. film
Stage actors must re-create their performance over and over. Each actor develops ways to adapt to the different demands of various media
Dame Judi Dench in film and onstage.

41. The actor bows

42. Acting is an art...
Actors are privileged people, they get to live the lives of saints, sinners, lovers, rulers, the great and the meek
They get to reenter the wonder of childhood and play
They get to fantasize freely and get paid for it
Many want to act, but true acting is a calling
The addicted actor is probably not very good

43. Actors must know more than acting, they must represent the human and therefore must understand humankind
The proper study of acting is life: common sense, observation, perception, tolerance and understanding
Actors need to possess training, business acumen and a realistic vision
Very few are capable of a professional career in acting. Those that do possess great talent, skill, persistence, fortitude and luck