Customer Reviews

Method Acting Reconsidered: Theory, Practice, Future

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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David Krasner has offered a collection of essays which have successfully answered my question, "why does everyone hate Method Acting?" I have often chalked it up to an unfair bias: Stella Adler spoke to Stanislavski, who did not appreciate Strasberg's approach to acting. So many acting instructors (Grotowski, Adler, Meisner) have adapted and moved beyond Stanislavski's (constantly changing) point of view in terms of how to act in a committed, truthful fashion, and yet Strasberg is regularly crucified in classrooms. As an acting teacher, I have tried to fight against this. It did not help when my department chair at one university I was teaching as an adjunct at had me use of Robert Barton's poorly researched "Acting On-Stage and Off" in my classroom. It was an uphill battle against an unfair bias (in print, no less, tipping the scales against my objections). When someone praises the "master" Stanislavski's work, we must ask "which phase of Stanislavski?," for the man changed his mind at every corner. Stanislavski was a man who experimented. Several members of The Group Theatre created their own interpretation of, added their own unique voice to, and created something out of Stanislavski's research from various points in his luminous career. Strasberg did not "misinterpret" Stanislavski. The Method is uniquely his own. Thank you, David Krasner and essayists for creating this long overdue book. I was worried I would have to write it!
John Patrick Bray, MFA, Actors Studio Drama School, New School University
PhD Student of Theatre, Lousiana State University

This book is the first one I've purchased out of two dozen that actually talks about Stanislovsky's "Method" approach and it's return to American Cinema in the future. "Method" Acting almost died over the past couple of decades and yet it appears it's been resurrected. The true principles and techniques of the "method" have been narrowed down to only a selected few in that period of time. Used by the Contemporary Acting Approaches of today. Who add these few techniques to their own Method Acting approaches. Most of them are neither supported by experienced or educated teachers. Only those hoping to make a quick buck off the unassuming novice. Or get back the twenty people who disappeared after only attending one or two classes by adding these few techniques to an already failing attempt to teach something that is worth paying for. This book is fantastic in learning all about the "original" "Method". It's origin, past, rise and fall and it's future. I only gave it four stars because of the fact, this is not a book full of exercises, lessons and assignments for the actor seeking those things. It is however, very clear and precise about what those assignments and exercises should cover and offers a great sense of hope for those who are in love with this approach and will settle for nothing short of it.