An Actors Handbook by Constantin Stanislavski

• What is method acting?

Method acting is a full embodiment of character. Stanislavski developed this method to give actors a way to truly become their characters in a realistic and meaningful way. There are several techniques used in method acting such as emotional memory which pulls on the actors real memories to connect to their character. In method acting the actor and the character become one in a single body. The character becomes 50% actor and 50% character to make a believable living person.

• How does an actor maintain communion?

The actor maintains communion by sharing all of their being with their audience. Their feelings, desires, thoughts and ideas must be connected with the audience. The goal of this is to have an uninterrupted exchange of all feelings between the audience and the actor.

• What is the importance of imagination in acting?

Imagination is the start of the creative process. Everything an actor says or does on stage is a result of real life imagination. We as actors can conjure up emotions that could be completely fabricated in our imagination but seem real to us. This is an absolutely neccessary skill for an actor.  It can make your characters more three demensional and real to the audience. The goal is to have a connection with ther audience even if it is only for a brief minute that moment of connection is what makes a great performance.  

Critiqued scenes today.

Hayley Final Monologue:

• Wow great change
• Commit to yourself and your gestures
• Nice levels

Michelle Final Monologue:

• Don’t pose too much
• Commit to gestures
• Be a bit more sexual

Alexis and Gina Final:

• Little bit louder
• Let the characters into your bodies
• More levels

Stephanie and Viktor Final:

• Volume
• Watch real nervous figiting
• Listen and react to each other

Billie and Tammy Final

• Volume
• More connected
• Too far
• Listen and react
• Don’t huff
• Good Naturalism
• Too much

Chelsea and Alex Final

• Nice use of props
• Volume
• Good monologue Chels
• Too close to the audience
• Don’t pose too much

I took notes on final scenes today.

Chanel Final Monologue:

• Little less breathy
• Good Build
• Make definate movements

Becca Final Monologue:

• Try not to look down
• Watch your beccaisms
• Not too close to the audience

I watched scenes and took notes on them.

Stephanie Final Monologue:

• I feel the confinement
• Strike the chair it’s much more powerful on the floor
• Speak to the audience
• Don’t put too much focus on the sky

Michael Final Monologue:

• Don”t figit too much
• More drunk!
• Too close to the audience
• Make sure the character is the one laughing

I watched peoples scenes and took notes on what I thought.

Billie Final Monologue:

• Very Natural
• Could have used a little more movement
• Little bit louder

Steven Final Monologue:

• Don’t look up and down
• Connect with the audience
• Try not to wander

Alex Final Monologue:

• Good volume
• Move a little more
• Connect your passion with movement

I watched scenes and I thought people did a great job.

Steven and Jose Final:

• Speak with conviction
• I would like to see more physicalization
• Blocking was at times confusing
• Good progression
• Jose good attitude
• Good projection

Sterling and Anna Final:

• Good choice Sterling
• Volume
• Wow…
• Watch gestures
• Sterling try not to pose
• A little too close to the audience

I have always liked Chekhov after playing Andre in Three Sisters. I thought that The Cherry Orchard really showed off Chekhov’s undstading of human nature more than other plays he has written. The play touches on some of the strongest human emotions such as love, jealousy, greed, and anger. The common theme that Chekhov brings up in his plays and the reason why when they were originally perfomed they were considered comedies is the lack of drive. The characters in his plays have the means to make their situations better but do nothing about it which causes them to come to ruin in the end. The Cherry Orchard is no exception. Madame Lyubov Andreievna Ranevskaya and her family long to save their cherry orchard from being sold off and to do so all they have to do is to take the advice Yermolai Alexeievitch Lopakhin. She doesn’t and Yermolai buys the orchard and has it cut down. This ideal is something that I find incredibly relatable in todays world. People complain about the situation they are in but never seem to want to do anything to get themselves out. It is amazing that Chekhov was noticing this even way back when and which is why his plays are still so highly praised and performed today.

I was not sure what to expect from this play but I was pleasently surprised. Eugene Ionesco’s Rhinoceros is a fantastical farse about how everyone thinks they are turning into a rhino. I finished the play and honestly wasn’t sure what I was supposed to walk away with. I decided to read more about it and turns out that the play was written about the trials accusing Americans of being communists. I thought that this was brilliant. Ionesco is able to cleverly address a serious issue of the time through a funny and satirical plot. I found the characters effective in making the at times ridiculous story more believable. I can really appreciate the intelligence of Ionescos writing. I am sorta hooked now and I want to read more of his work.

Well I went again for my monologue and I thought I did pretty well. Ed gave me some really good things to think about. He said that I should fight off the effects of the drugs more and mix it up more. He wants to see more variety with taking moments of being high and speaking out. He said he enjoyed the low register in my voice and to use more of that. I also sat in on Hayley and Michelle’s monologues. Hayley I felt was struggling with thinking about the words instead of experiencing it. When she did it the first time I really felt her emotion and she gave me this feeling of sympathy that was really nice. She was also a little quiet and seemed nervous. Michelle had a really nice monologue. It was audible and good material for her. She was lacking a little bit of the period movement for the piece but I thought she nailed the proper but punctual personality of her character.  

Sometimes I just can’t understand myself. I know that I can do well with this scene but I am having the hardest time finding my character. I keep getting the same notes over and over. I’m not sure how to play him because he has so much going on internally that it is hard to expose that on the surface. He has serveral personalities but at the same time stays calm cool and collected how do you show that!? I feel peoples pain when they are up on stage struggling through their scenes too but I feel like more is expected from me. I should be an example for the younger actors and actresses in the class. I am struggling to find the balance in this charatcer and I don’t want the class to think I’m lazy but I am just having difficultly.