Building A Character [Hardcover]

Constantin Stanislavski (Author), Elizabeth Reynolds Hapgood (Translator), Joshua Logan (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 7, 1987 | ISBN-10: 0878300120 | ISBN-13: 978-0878300129 | Edition: 1ST

Stanislavski's groundbreaking acting system, developed from his work in the Moscow Art Theater and acknowledged the world over, found its greatest success in America where its methods have been used for over fifty years by the Actor's Studio in New York.
Building a Character, the second volume in Stanislavski's acclaimed trilogy, continues the total immersion in technique and class scenarios begun in An Actor Prepares. The work unfolds in a drama school with a group of young actors: the argumentative Grisha; the pretty, vain Sonia; her admirer, the clowning Vanya; and Kostya, the diarist who records the daily lessons. The teacher and director Tortsov is modeled on Stanislavski.
The emphasis in the second book is to continue to challenge the imagination of the actors, encouraging them to act out the deepest expressions of human nature and find their highest potential. Here, a new range of physical exercises is practiced with the goals of plasticity of motion, restraint and control, and making the body expressive. Stanislavski also delves into stage charm and character-building by focusing on diction and singing, intonation and pauses, and tempo-rhythm.
Stanislavski's aim is to help actors fill out their roles to the proportion of whole human beings, "characters who will have the power to move the public to laughter, to tears, to unforgettable emotions."

Editorial Reviews

Review

Indispensable for the actor, stimulating for the layman.
–The Nation

Anyone who attempts to train actors or to direct plays will find here a great mine of practical wisdom, all informed by Stanislavski's grasp of the art itself.
–Francis Fergusson, Educational Theatre Journal

In (this book) Stanislavski, assuming the reader's familiarity with the 'inner technique', proceeds to study costume and the wearing of costume, bodily movement, voice, speech and the use of language, and tempo and rhythm-- the more external but essential techniques whereby the actor learns to use his physical instrument . . . and he expounds them as only a master can; i.e., with the insight and authority of talent plus expeirence. Anyone who attempts to train actors or to direct plays will find here a great mine of practical wisdom.
–Francis Fergusson, Education Theatre Journal

The chapter on Diction and Singing offers an analysis of basic problems of singing that is unrivaled.
–Musical America

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Russian --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1ST edition (January 7, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878300120
• ISBN-13: 978-0878300129
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #491,379 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Foundation of knowledge for the actor, August 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Building A Character (Hardcover)

Stanislavki is considered a master of theatre and often called the "father of the method." In this, the second installment of his acting technique books(very wittingly alphabetically titled An actor prepares, Building a Character, Creating a role) he goes into the external technique an actor must use to become a character.

Like an Actor Prepares, he uses fictional characters obviously based on the actors from the Moscow Art Theatre, with the director, Tortsov (think Stanislavski) being the one with all the knowledge. While a lot is to be learned from the book, one can't help but notice how egotistically the book is written. While there is no denoting how wonderfully he lays out the principles taken in building a character, I wonder how much easier of a read it would be if he just came out and said, these are our principles. Instead he cloaks himself behind a character and we lose a lot trying to muddle through a student's undying love (Kostya, who's "journals" make up the text) for his teacher. If you can get past the text, you'll learn a lot.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic, October 21, 2005

By 

The Actor (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Building A Character (Paperback)

This book is the second in Stanislavski's series. Deals with the "external aspects" of the System. A great read, in spite of the poor translation; this book (and the entire series) completely transformed my acting almost overnight, as if a fog had lifted from my eyes. This book/series helped me understand, fundamentally, what I should be DOING onstage. I received numerous compliments on the next role I played after reading this book and several comments on my improvement, etc.

Great advice for actors. Strongly recommended for both actors and directors.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic -must read for actors, July 25, 2010

By 

LMH - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Building A Character (Hardcover)

This is the classic book all actors should read and fill out their library with. I do think much (including eloquence and ease of reading) is lost in translation but it's still an important investment.