Stanislavski: His Life and Art

by Jean Benedetti

Written by a former teacher and author of An Introduction, this biography has been revised and updated to include new material now becoming available from the Russian archives, including a letter from Stanislavski to Stalin. The book is a set text for drama students.

Genres: Theatre, Biography, Theory, Nonfiction

434 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1988

Reviews

[Gracesoup · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somehow read this book today for my assignment i want to cry

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. Honestly, I need to buy it. Stanislavsky's method is outlined absolutely clearly.

I owe a great debt to Jean Benedetti. He has just saved my Drama assignment and my acting techniques in one go.

[Feliks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite different from what I have encountered of the great Slav's other famous writings in his other works, and different from what you will probably find in any excerpts, references, or anthologies. This is not prose, not preachy, not autobiography. It is not dizzy or obscurantist, dense, nor mystifying or mythological. It is free of all theory and ponderings. Refreshingly, what it is instead, is a simple and clearly-laid out "instruction book" of actor's exercises. A training book. Specific steps, numbered and bullet-point outlines. Real-world techniques to hone actor's discipline. I recommend it for its clean and clutter-free presentation of ideas.

[☾✦Margaret Rolfe✦☽ (on hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

quite tricky to understand ngl

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Don't assault the subconscious, our deepest feelings have to be lured, enticed, not forced. Rehearsal is not group therapy. Acting is not analysis."

[Krista]

Was reading backstage during the run of a show. Interesting, but didn't finish before the show was over (it belonged to the theatre), and I don't know that I'm interested enough to check out of the library.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A definite must read to anyone thinking of taking acting.