Playing Shakespeare: An Actor's Guide (Methuen Paperback) (Paperback)

by John Barton (Author) "Playing Shakespeare. Not reading him or writing about him but playing him..." (more)
Key Phrases: dost thou like this tune, contrapuntal position, hidden poetry, David Suchet, Lisa Harrow, Ben Kingsley (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
With the help of Judi Dench, Ben Kingsley, Ian McKellen and other actors, associate director of London's Royal Shakespeare Company John Barton presents Playing Shakespeare: An Actor's Guide. With over 50 of the Bard's plays and numerous U.K. and U.S. theater workshops under his directorial belt, the eminently qualified Barton provides a record of nine Royal Shakespeare Company workshops conducted on television in 1984 with the actors listed above. "Acting is built upon specifics," he writes, and proceeds to give specific advice to modern actors on performing these old but not antiquated texts. This thoughtful guide will be embraced by actors and directors alike. ( Aug. 28)
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Walking the boards in a play by the Bard can be one of the most rewarding and frightening experiences of an actor's life. Drawing on 35 years' experience as associate director of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), Barton here offers advice on tackling Shakespeare as a performer. Along with assistance from fellow RSC players, including Ian McKellan, Judi Dench, Ben Kingsley, and Patrick Stewart, Barton offers tips on replicating the often tongue-twisting prose, exploring the characters, understanding the language, handling speeches and soliloquies, and more. A welcome handbook for any theater collection both public and academic.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Anchor; 1st Anchor books ed edition (August 21, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385720858
• ISBN-13: 978-0385720854
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,124 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Introduction For Actors and Non-Actors Alike, September 22, 1998

By	Carolyn L. Zaremba (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Playing Shakespeare (Performance Books) (Paperback)

John Bardon, with the assistance of the players from the Royal Shakespeare Company, presents with great zest and humor not merely the mechanics of speaking the verse of Shakespeare, but the sense of the Style of Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Age. The actors demonstrate all of the means by which they have discovered the characters they portray and make their own, and their great fortune in the legacy of the RSC. They have absorbed with passion and insight the very beings of another time. I wish, when I was a young actor, that I had had John Bardon as a teacher of verse drama. It took me years to find anyone who could teach me the basic, uncomplicated approach to verse I found in this book. May I just add, I also saw the London Weekend Television production on which the book is based and it was magical. The book reinforces my memory of the living actors, most of whom are favorites of mine who I have seen in all types of productions. However, it is not necessary to have seen that program to appreciate and learn from the book. Highly, highly recommended.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the must-have books for any serious stage actor., May 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Playing Shakespeare (Performance Books) (Paperback)

I first read Playing Shakespeare when I was still in high school, and have reread it at least three or four times since then. A definite must-read for any serious stage performer. An eye-opener for anyone struggling with a Shakespearean role or character. Very literary, but easy to get into and understand. You have to read it for yourself! Definitely worth the price.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How can this book be out of print!?, July 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Playing Shakespeare (Performance Books) (Paperback)

Barton's careful method and artful writing combine to create a powerful primer on the actor's responsibilities to the text, the character, and the play. This is a must-have-must-read for anyone preparing for the profession.