Incredibly useful
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I started reading Stanislavski when I was 14, and I remember then that it was incredibly tedious trawling through the decrepit translation of 1937 or thereabouts. Still I managed it, and I felt myself a serious actor for doing so, but I couldn't bear to attempt it again!
A few months ago, I had a workshop with Bella Merlin (one of England's leading authorities on Stanislavski), and within the workshop we explored the principles of Stanislavski once more, but this time using quotes from this book. The difference was incredible! No longer the shaky and slightly high-minded language of the original translation; instead an instantly accessible translation that was much easier to understand as well as far more interesting.
The book contains both "An Actor Prepares" and "Building a Character" in the same volume, which is how it was originally meant to be (however Stanislavski died before this was brought to fruition). As a result, the psychophysical work is integrated with the physical leading to greater clarification and unification of his original methodologies and ideas.
Included at the back are a list of exercises explored in the book, as well as extra material from Stan's original notes.
This book will become the standard text on Stanislavski, and it well deserves it too! Clear, comprehensive, humorous in places: this is the book Stanislavski wanted us to read!
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