Acting Without Agony: An Alternative to the Method (2nd Edition)

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 268 pages
• Published by: Allyn & Bacon
• Edition: 2nd Edition November 7, 1993
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0205151655
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0205151653
• Book Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Weighs: 11 ounces

Product Description
This practical, step-by-step guide is organized into 18 lessons for achieving outstanding performance in acting and directing. This text offers an alternative to the Stanislavsky "method" and teaches another way of arriving at emotions, which is described in detail throughout the text. MARKETS: Undergraduate and graduate courses in acting and directing.

Reader Reviews
In this compact, easy to read tome, the late Mr. Richardson (an experienced director besides teacher)attacks, debunks and demystifies the insipid acting cult known as "the method". Breaking down acting into simple (albeit far too simple-hence the 4 star rating)and applicable steps, Richardson approaches acting as a joyful and natural form of human expression. While the book doesn't really provide as many usefull lessons (a few more would have earned the book a slightly higher rating)as attending a class would, it does communicate a clear philosophy that makes acting accessible to a wider variety of students. Richardson attacks the psuedo-pyschiatric approaches made popular by too many 20th Century acting teachers and sticks to the very basics. A successful director himself (unlike the most of the pantheon of American Acting teachers- Adler, Meisner, Strassberg- Lewis being the exception)Richardson takes great pains to approach acting from both sides of the camera and stage. His teaching method is to make acting as painless as possible. Too bad this is relatively hard to get ahold of. A valuable addition to any actor's library.