Dialects for the Stage [Paperback]

Evangeline Machlin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 2006

Dialect work is one of the actor's most challenging tasks. Need to know a Russian accent? Playing a German countess or a Midwestern farmhand? These and more accents – from Yiddish to French Canadian – are clearly explained in Evangeline Machlin's classic work.

Now available in a book-and-CD format, Evangeline Machlin's Dialects for the Stage is based on a method of dialect acquisition she developed during her years working with students at Boston University's Division of Theatre. During her long career, Evangeline Machlin trained such actors as Steve McQueen, Lee Grant, Suzanne Pleshette, Joanne Woodward, and Faye Dunaway.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Evangeline Machlin was formerly director of speech studies at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and Lecturer in Speech at Columbia University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 2 edition (February 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087830200X
• ISBN-13: 978-0878302000
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,239,157 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Probably good, if you don't know IPA, February 12, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Dialects for the Stage (Hardcover)

If you are familiar with the International Phonetic Alphabet, this is not the book for you. The "phonetic" spellings used in the book are just confusing, and seemingly pointless, as there is an extensive explanation of IPA in the back of the book, albeit with unintelligibly written symbols.

The book is also difficult to find in combination with the two cassette tapes that go with it, and without them, the book is rather useless. The cassette tapes are where the real information lies, and the book is merely a companion with explanations of how to use the tapes and transcripts of the conversations and monologues as heard on the tapes.

I say, save your money. Rent a video with your preferred dialect instead.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Versitile Book for the Speech Student and Actor, April 3, 2000

By 

susan matroni (Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dialects for the Stage (Hardcover)

I found, "Dialects for the Stage" not only helpful in equiping aspiring actors and actresses with the necessary information towards a believably authenic dialect, but also the book is wonderful for the student who is interested in dialect coaching. The hardback feature makes it a excellent resource for years to come.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great help for actors, May 14, 2007

By 

Jan H. Wolfe "Theatrician" (El Paso, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dialects for the Stage (Paperback)

Learning a dialect for the stage is a difficult thing to do, but this book and CD make it easier. There are detailed descriptions for the advanced speaker and wonderful exercises for the beginning to intermediate actor. A must for directors to keep in their libraries.