Stella Adler's acting technique focuses on imagination and immersing oneself in the character's world. Actors must understand the character's sensory experiences and project a realistic mental image on stage. The technique also emphasizes discipline by keeping the body healthy, textual analysis to understand the character's nature, and composing actions that display what a character has observed from life to elicit reactions from other characters. When using this technique, the actor was able to produce a standout performance that convincingly portrayed the setting of the character.
Stella Adler's acting technique focuses on imagination and immersing oneself in the character's world. Actors must understand the character's sensory experiences and project a realistic mental image on stage. The technique also emphasizes discipline by keeping the body healthy, textual analysis to understand the character's nature, and composing actions that display what a character has observed from life to elicit reactions from other characters. When using this technique, the actor was able to produce a standout performance that convincingly portrayed the setting of the character.
Stella Adler's acting technique focuses on imagination and immersing oneself in the character's world. Actors must understand the character's sensory experiences and project a realistic mental image on stage. The technique also emphasizes discipline by keeping the body healthy, textual analysis to understand the character's nature, and composing actions that display what a character has observed from life to elicit reactions from other characters. When using this technique, the actor was able to produce a standout performance that convincingly portrayed the setting of the character.
Stella Adler's acting technique focuses on imagination and immersing oneself in the character's world. Actors must understand the character's sensory experiences and project a realistic mental image on stage. The technique also emphasizes discipline by keeping the body healthy, textual analysis to understand the character's nature, and composing actions that display what a character has observed from life to elicit reactions from other characters. When using this technique, the actor was able to produce a standout performance that convincingly portrayed the setting of the character.
Overall, the technique is based around the actors ability to
imagine the world as the character would. Adler’s objective for the actor, was for the actor to expand their understanding of the characters world - they have to immerse themselves with sensory elements of everyday life; to create a realistic mental image, and project that on stage. The performance wouldn’t be a lie. Imagination is the main component of the technique, the others are:
Discipline - Stella Adler required actors to keep in good health,
mentally and physically. For instance: any weak points of their body - like a sore throat, and thus a poor voice - one would have to perfect this.
Text Analysis - The actor has to search the text for indications of the characters nature - pick this apart, apply it to the performance. As well as this, the actor must complete a contextual analysis of their given piece - explore the historical/social background. Expand their knowledge on the time period, geographical location, possible monarch/religious influence.
Action - It’s simple, an action that a character does to another
character, in order to get a reaction. The actor, has to project the plays given circumstances through an action. The actions that the actor composes have to display what the character has observed from life.
When implicating this technique in my performance I found it
beneficial, in the sense that I was able to produce a stand out performance, visually for the audience. One of my targets was to compose a piece of performance where the stage portrays the setting the of the character, convincingly. I can apply this technique to my upcoming Krays piece, which should, hopefully, present some realistic footage. Historically, the Krays bared arms in WW2, so would be somewhat disciplined and respected. The film is set in the 1950s, so they were generally better well spoken. Socially, they were both feared and respected in the community, as they were violent and accustomed to prison environment. I can bring this knowledge into my performance, remember to speak with clarity - articulate all of my words, keeping in my mind that they wouldn’t of had a Received Pronunciation accent; it would of been more East London sounding. They must of had some sort of military training, so I assume they would hold good posture and be generally fit. Having said that, smoking was normal, so they’re lung capacity would of been minimal. After I have recited my piece in the desired location - a bar that resembles the original. I can gain feedback from my peers, identify the weaker aspects, and redo my performance until I’ve worked all the negatives out.
