The Acting Articles will be a series of weekly reviews and opinions of highly recommended acting workbooks, technique books, plays, and any other theatre suggested reading.
For week one I was suggested Acting: The First Six Lessons by Richard Boleslavsky (Edited by Rhonda Blair) by one of my acting professors at AMDA.
As an actress who believes firmly in acting technique and the foundation of theatre itself reading and understanding the concepts involving technical theatre are severely important to me. With this idea in mind I picked up Acting: The First Six Lessons with nothing more than a pencil and highlighter in hand and began learning. First and foremost the "teacher" in question was none other than Richard Boleslavsky (Polish actor and director who came to New York in 1920 with the determination to teach the Stanislavsky system of acting. He produced Broadway plays and later became a Hollywood directing staple in the 1930s.)
The way the book is set up is based on the presentation of information in segments:
Chapters 1-6: Acting: The Six Lessons
Is an inside look on one of his "creatures" (students) who we view from the very moment Richard Boleslavsky meets her in chapter one, to the success she has become due to his teaching skill and "lessons" in chapter six.
These lessons I believe are extremely important for any aspiring actor or actress, not only because his advice and lessons are informative and beautiful for the acting brain- but raw and honest as well as seen on the first page.
"Art cannot be taught. To possess an art means to possess talent. That is something one has or has not. You can develop it by hard work, but to create a talent is impossible." - Richard Boleslavsky
His insight on all things artistic and human are what he propels onto the "creature" at hand forcing her to used herself as the tool for success. (He compares an actor to a musician; where a musician has an outside tool- an instrument, an actor must have his/her tools ready inside of them.) With this in mind he is able to teach and direct this "creature" to great heights and achievements.
Chapters 1-15: The "Creative Theatre" Lectures
Lectures given by Richard Boleslavsky at the Princess Theatre in 1923 during a visit to the Moscow Art Theatre. He gives the first public presentation of Stanislavkavsy technique and approach to acting and theatre.
He asks questions such as: "What is theatre?" "What is a play?" "What is an actor?" and unbiasedly lectures the room on what all of those things not only literally mean, but what effect they have on theatre itself. He also talks about the "qualifications of a creative actor" and what is necessary to develop ones spirit and soul.
Chapters 1-8: Boleslavsky lectures from the American Laboratory Theatre
Lectures believed to be given at the American Laboratory Theatre around 1925-1926.
Chapters 1-4: Notes on acting with Maria Ouspenskaya
Richard Boleslavsky's collaborator was Maria Ouspenskaya (studio teacher), who helped firm the belief of fundamental skills, Stanislavskian principles, and elements necessary in teaching and training in the theatre. She has gone much under appreciated due to the fact she never wrote about her work, however in Acting: The First Six Lessons a whole segment is dedicated to her essays and segments printed in magazines for the world to know her impressive creative mind.
OPINION:
I believe this book is necessary and should be read by every student training in the theatre and acting profession. Not only was is beyond helpful for my own personal work but it has made my understanding of acting and the principles necessary for technique much cleaner. I am undoubtably inspired by the work of Richard Boleslavsky and Maria Ouspenskaya and I cannot wait to bring Acting: The Six Lessons into my own education and understanding of theatre.
10/10 highly recommend
