Acting: The First Six Lessons (Theatre Arts Book) [Hardcover]

Richard Boleslavsky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 7, 1987 | Series: Theatre Arts Book

This classic work on acting is one of the very few that stands beside Stanislavsky as a must-have for all acting students and professionals. Richard Boleslavsky's Acting: The First Six Lessons is a treasure-box of wise observation about the art of acting, all wrapped up in six charming dialogues between a teacher and a student. Generations of actors have been enriched by Boleslavsky's witty and acute picture of the actor's craft. These six "lessons" -- miniature dramas about concentration, memory of emotion, dramatic action, characterization, observation, and rhythm -- distill the challenge facing every actor. For this reissue the text has been entirely reset and the book jacketed in a contemporary design. An essential work on the short shelf of any acting student.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One wants to quote any number of passages for their wit, the gayety of their instruction, the fineness of their perceptions, the good sense they show, their helpfulness and their ever-incisive clarity...The thing for actors to do, whether they are young or old, is to buy this book....It does more to explore the art of acting than any single volume for years." -- John Mason Brow

"Under their apparent simplicity and light-heartedness, (the lessons are) profound and to the point. Both beginners and established actors, who take their work seriously, will find stimulation in this book." -- Sir Alec Guinness

About the Author

Richard Boleslavsky was a member of the Moscow Art Theater and cofounder of the American Laboratory Theater School, which trained Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler among other actors and teachers, playing an important role in bringing Stanislavsky's techniques to America. Although he directed Hollywood films in the 1930s and 1940s, his enduring work is contained in this book.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 152 pages
• Publisher: Theatre Arts / Routledge (January 7, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878300007
• ISBN-13: 978-0878300006
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #478,973 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Actor's Bible January 12, 2001

By Paul E. Doniger

Format:Hardcover

In this deceptively simple little book, Richard Boleslavsky, famed director of a by-gone era, has laid out not only the "First Six Lessons" of the title, but ALL six lessons. They are, clearly, lessons that must be read more than once and over a period of years that reflect the obvious growth in maturity of 'The Creature' who is Boleslavsky's imaginary student in the book.

In each of the six lessons -- on the surface, six acts of a drama -- Boleslavsky presents the skills and tools of the classically trained actor: Concentration, Memory of Emotion, Dramatic Action, Characterization, Observation, and that elusive tool called Rhythm. In each chapter, he manages to show how these tools are applied through the three basic aspects of the actors craft: Emotion, Intellect, and Body. Unlike the American Method of Lee Strassberg, he stresses the balance among these three aspects throughout all of his 'lessons' to the creature.

Among the many delightful moments in these lessons, in the chapter on characterization, shows how an actor must approach the performance of a Shakespearean role: "All you have to do is grasp the characterization of Shakespeare's mind and follow it" (82-83). Of course, Boleslavsky knows that this is no simple task, but he is able to put it in simple terms for us to begin the process of "grasping" it.

Finally, one could make a case for non-acting artists to read this book also. It is a treatise on creativity in general, as well as acting specifically, when, for example, it says, "The theatre exists to show things which do not exist actually. When you love on stage, do you really love? Be logical. You substitute creation for the real thing. The creation must be real, but that is the only reality that should be there" (41).The universality of Boleslavsky's art is inescapable.

No better tract for the actor exists; no actor should live without this at his or her side.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The best volume to begin your work as an actor March 6, 2001

By J. Remington

Format:Hardcover

Richard Boleslavsi, a key member of the Moscow Art Theatre and practioner of the Stanislvaskian "system" wrote this, a key volume that serves as the greatest starting point for any serious actor.

Writing his text in the form of a play script, Boleslavski lays out a series of easily definable and highly applicable excersises that aid tremendously towards developing the acting instrument.

Although it is impossible to learn acting from simply reading a book, if used as a complimentary text in a hands on acting class, Boleslavski's book will help one build a solid foundation upon which one can begin legitimate work in the Theatre.

However, on a strongly personally biased note, skip the second chapter, entitled "Memory of Emotion". If done improperly, this second chapter can lead to incredibly self conscious acting posing as psuedo-therepy.

The chapters of Rythym, Concentration, Dramatic Action, Characterization and Observation however prove helpful, practical and definable. Please begin with this tome.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for the Acting Student August 12, 2004

By Donna Grayson

Format:Hardcover

I recently took a scene study class, and the teacher used this book as our reading material for the course. This is a great book to get if you want to find out what it takes to be a serious actor. The book teaches the basic foundations of acting, for example Concentration and Characterization and more.

It is told in a story type format with the Teacher meeting "The Creature" and her aunt and other people in her life. The characters in the book talk about the fundementals of what it takes to act. Because it is told in this format, the ideas in the book are very easy to follow.

I did find that the Teacher refering to his student as "The Creature" was somewhat demeaning. But then you have to consider how long ago this book was written and the time period it was written in. This was probably typical of the period. Even though the actual book was written so long ago, it is a classic for the acting student. And the techniques and methods the Teacher speaks about are things even modern day actors must learn.

If you are interested in the Craft of Acting, this is definately a book you should read.