theatre appreciation: chapter 5

Stanislavski's early research into realistic acting techniques was conducted while he was directing many plays by?

Anton Chekhov

imitation

To simulate or copy behavior observed in real life. - on all levels of society, all ages (children best) - ex: in class, someone who imitates teacher/principal with great humor or cruelty

During what era were women allowed to perform as actors on stage?

Today's theatre

True or false: Stage actors must always have an audience present.

True

What were three questions Stanislavski associated with psychophysical actions?

What? Why? How?

The term _____________ refers to the skill in Stanislavski's System of acting whereby an actor focuses their entire concentration on an object, person or task to the exclusion of all else.

concentration

What are examples of personal roles we play in our everyday lives?

conspirator task master peacemaker

The style of puppet most recognizable to Western audiences and does not have strings or other items attached to the head and limbs for control is called?

hand puppet

In Stanislavski's System of Acting the term _____________ refers to an acting exercise whereby the actor imagines themselves in the same situation as the character.

magic if

What are situations for which an actor must receive extensive physical and/or vocal training?

modern on stage violence musical theatre sword fights Shakespearian plays

During the twentieth century while some acting teachers were focused on the inner workings of the actor, other acting teachers were focused on the _____________ side of performance.

physical

Stanislavski believed that all action performed on stage must have a(n) ___________.

purpose

What is another name for a through line of a role?

superobjective

A popular actor training method that comes from Asian martial arts training is called ______ ______.

tai chi

"Viewpoints" theory is an approach to acting that originated in the United States and combines dance and stage movement with concepts of?

time and space

consciousness raising

- aspect of women's movement - ex: making people aware of sexist social attitudes toward women

personal roles

- developed with family & friends - ex: braggarts, martyrs, conspirators - frequently two people fall into complementary roles: one dominant + one submissive, one active + one passive

making characters believable

- major aspect of acting: credibility - make audience believe characters onstage, make characters convincing

realistic acting

- mid-17th century on: srs attempts to perfect credible, natural acting - more important at end of 19th century

life acting vs stage acting

- onstage: actors always being observed - irl: observers, but presence not essential - onstage: performer required to play role they don't irl - irl: roles generally genuine

acting in daily life

- two examples: imitation and role playing

When an actor achieves the state of relaxation on stage they are much better able to...?

... have lifelike movements. ... enjoy freedom from tension. ... move fluidly and effortlessly.

When actors are participating in ensemble playing they are...?

... listening carefully to each other.

Actors can use technology to...?

... rehearse for a role. ... prepare for auditions. ... find auditions.

three challenges of acting

1) To make characters believable -- inner truth. 2) Physical acting -- the use of voice and body. 3) Synthesis and integration -- combining inner and outer skills.

realism

Broadly, an attempt to present onstage people, places, and events corresponding to those in everyday life. - a type of drama perfected by playwrights Henrik Ibsen (Norway), August Strindberg (Sweden), & Anton Chekhov (Russia) - realistic bc closely resembled what ppl could identify with & verify from own experience - spirit of individual dramatic characters + details of behavior had to conform to what ppl saw of life around them

social roles

General roles recognized by society. Every culture expects certain types of behavior from ppl who are assigned specific social roles, sometimes resulting in stereotyping or oppressing those individuals.

In what way is the approach of Lee Strasberg different from the approach of acting teachers like Stella Adler, Sanford Meisner, and Uta Hagen?

It emphasizes the inner aspects of acting.

The first theatre practitioner to put together a system of acting that could be taught to others in order to reproduce on stage was __________ ___________.

Konstantin Stanislavski

What modern acting teacher stressed emotional recall as the most important part of their teachings?

Lee Strasberg

Which of the following acting teachers encouraged students to use the text as an instrument of action through exercises such as the "Content-less Scene"?

Robert Cohen

What are examples of current approaches to actor training?

Robert Cohen's emphasis on using the text to find the all important action of the scene. Uta Hagen's emphasis on emotion as a springboard to achieve the truth on stage. Robert Bendetti's emphasis on the beginning with the physical and then working inward for inner truth.

The program developed by Vsevolod Meyerhold that emphasizes physical exercises and circus-like control of the body is known as?

biomechanics

When an actor is focused on a particular area of the stage, an object, or another person this is called what?

circle of attention

Early in his career Stanislavski believed that focusing on an _____________ was the best way to produce believable action. But later in his career he believed that focusing on purposeful ____________ would eventually produce true feelings on stage.

emotion action

True or false: In order for an actor or actress to properly prepare a role, he or she should always begin with an outer aspect such as a walk, a posture, or a peculiar vocal delivery, and then develop the inner life of the character.

false

True or false: Unlike in classical plays, adept physical movement is not required of the actor in a realistic play.

false