Customer Reviews

Clues to Acting Shakespeare

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Here is the "Library Journal" September 1, 2000 review of "Clues to Acting Shakespeare" by Wesley Van Tassel and "A Shakespearean Actor Prepares" by Adrian Brine and Michael York. For centuries, actors have known what the American hoi polloi, through the efforts of Kenneth Branagh, films like "Shakespeare in Love," and eminent critic Harold Bloom's "Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human," is now acknowledging: Shakespeare is cool. The venerable dramatic publisher Smith & Kraus, of course, has known this for years and contributes to their fine stable of theatrical thoroughbreds with a fine work from esteemed actor York and European actor, director, and teacher Brine. Geared to actors studying and performing Shakespeare, the instructional and conversational text is also appropriate for nonactor Shakespearean fans. Both Brine and York smoothly blend together their considerable experience and expertise through practical commentaries on language, verse, and soliloquies and an intriguing chapter on Stanislavsky, from whose seminal acting text, "An Actor Prepares," the title is taken. Appendixes include a brief "Who's Who" and a Shakespearean biography, chronology of plays, and reading list. If Brine and York's book, with its elegant pedigree, is a race horse, Van Tassel's beautifully conceived and executed text is a Clydesdale, a workhorse of a workbook that is purposefully divided to reach manifold audiences: College students and independent workshops, high school students and teachers, and professional actors and coaches, with a final resourse section from which everyone can benefit. Through both the instructional narrative and his bountiful exercises, Van Tassel, a director and acting teacher, explicates the basic Shakespearean tenets of scansion, caesura, phrasing, breathing, textual analysis, imagery, structure and rhythm, and antithesis, and he does it gracefully and appropriately for the diverse readers he intends to reach. This is the kind of helpful instructional aid, both detailed and clear, for which both students and teachers constantly clamor. Both works should be acquired for performing arts collections, by "Clues to Acting Shakespeare" is a no-brainer purchase for acting collections in all libraries.-- Barry X. Miller: Austin P.L., Texas

The author has placed the September 1 review from Library Journal on the site for all to read. It also includes their review of the Brine/York book on Shakespeare which was published at the same time.

Every English and drama teacher should own this book, plus, of course, any actor interested in Shakespeare.

This is a wonderful, clear, simple, step by step guide to teach shakespeare in a secondary classroom. The excercises are clear and easy to implement and the students can see growth right away! Great resource for teachers!!!

I have tried to help EFL speakers read Shakespeare for advanced English testing. It is complete torture! This book offers clear, pragmatic tools needed to analyze Shakspearean text and imagery (without mentioning the very physical aspect of breathing one's way through a monologue)which are necessary for a comprehensible reading. Best book I've yet to read on the subject!

This books offers a practical and easy to impliment approach to the study of Shakespeare and using his lanaguage affectively. A great resouce for teachers, directors and actors, Van Tassel outlines a workable set of simple activites that allow the student/actor to find the meaning behind the words. I used this text in a workshop this summer and was amazed at the improvment made in interpretation from first-time actors. A great resource for teachers with inexperienced students. As an teacher, the middle section is invaluable, with clear examples of how to present the exercises. As an actor myself, i will take the lesson into my own performances. This book will not sit on your bookshelf - its clear, understandable, practical and just the right length for a busy theatrical professional! A great find!

Wesley Van Tassel has written an complete, effective, and easily readable primer on speaking Shakespeare's verse with clarity and the honesty that is often so lacking in many Shakespearian performances. By combining his obvious love for the Bard's language with years of practical know-how, he has created a marvelous guidebook for both acting students and teachers of Shakespeare's immortal poetry. Filled with insightful suggestions and exercises, Clues to Acting Shakespeare should become required reading for those approaching the works of the greatest dramatist of all time.