The Actor's Chekhov : Interviews with Nikos Psacharopoulos and the Company of the Williamstown Theatre Festival, on the Plays of Anton Chekhov [Paperback]

Jean Hackett (Author), John Guare (Foreword), Nikos Psacharopoulos (Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1880399059 | ISBN-13: 978-1880399057 | Publication Date: March 1993

Over a 25 year span, director Nikos Psacharopoulos and a continuing company of actors at the Williamstown Theatre Festival committed themselves to staging Chekhov's plays again and again, in the process forging a phenomenon: an American technique for approaching and realizing the work of one of the worl's greatest playwrights. the Actor's Chekhov reveals how this came to be. At the heart of The Actor's Chekhov are Nikos' teaching tapes and notes on specific plays and scenes by Chekhov, as well as 18 substantial interviews with past and present members of the company.

Includes interviews with: Austin Pendleton, Blythe Danner, Tom Brennan, Olympia Dukakis, Louis Zorich, Lee Grant, Kate Burton, Roberta Maxwell, Christopher Walken, Laila Robins, Joyce Ebert, John Glover, Stephan Collins, Carrie Nye, Peter Hunt, Laurie Kennedy, Maria Tucci, and Frank Langella.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Psacharopoulos became the artistic directior of the famed Williamstown Theatre Festival (WTF) in 1955. Until the time of his death in 1989, he directed some of America's greatest talents, who came to the Berkshire Mountains not to have their egos stroked but to grow in their craft. He mostly eschewed the usual light, summer stock fare for the works of Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, and Anton Chekhov. This two-part work centers on the Chekhov productions as performed by theater luminaries such as Lee Grant, Blythe Danner, and Austin Pendleton. In fact, there are 18 substantial interviews here with actors who discuss Psacharopoulos and his approach to Chekhov. That, in itself, is a wonderful treasure of material, but what follows is another little gem entitled "The Acting Notebook." Here, extensive notes on five Chekhov plays--including Psacharopoulos's synopses of specific scenes and more interviews with actors--are presented. While there are other books available on acting approaches to Chekhov, this one should not be overlooked by libraries with solid theater collections. Also, since the WTF is such a major summer theater company, this work supplies an important look into its production history.
- Diane H. Albosta, Episcopal H.S. Lib., Alexandria, Va.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

..I think that this book offers good advice for everyone regardless of what they are playing or directing. -- Performink, September 23, 1993

Alterman's original monologues promise to sustain legions of actors with a windfall of gritty and commanding audition pieces. -- Booklist, June 1993

Even though the book contains a lot of "shop talk," it does not exclude those not familiar with the theatre. -- Small Press, Summer 1993

Written record of moments of "break-throughs" in the art of acting. Strongly recommended for all libraries. -- Choice, January 1994

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 314 pages
• Publisher: Smith and Kraus (March 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880399059
• ISBN-13: 978-1880399057
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #665,329 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read for Chekhov Fans and Actors, May 24, 2005

By 

Carl Freed (Montreal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Actor's Chekhov : Interviews with Nikos Psacharopoulos and the Company of the Williamstown Theatre Festival, on the Plays of Anton Chekhov (Paperback)

This is one of the best books I've ever read. As an amateur actor, filmmaker, and huge fan of Chekhov's short stories, I was blown away. This book is hip, and a real page-turner. I was excited and inspired by it. This is the real deal, it's what creative stuff is all about.