Stella Adler on Ibsen, Strindberg, and Chekhov

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Summary: Stella Adler on Ibsen, Strindberg, and Chekhov
Review: This book is a must for serious actors who wish to further their understanding of the great writers for the stage. Before reading this book, I was, as an actor, very intimidated by the works of all three writers, but now feel like I can approach their plays with some degree of clarity and purpose. Adler writes from the point of view of performer, literary analyst, and teacher, a combination that serves to leave the reader inspired to tackle these three catalysts of the theatre.

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Summary: Insightful and inspring but from one perspective only
Review: This is definitely a theater must. Stella Adler, probably one of the best American acting teachers talking about three of the greatest playwrights (Ibsen, Strindberg, and Chekhov) ever. It is hard where to categorize this book for it points out ways (or I should say one way for Chekhov) to approach the plays of these Playwrights to the Actor but it is also very academic and analytic of the plays at the same time. Most of the entries, broadly discuss the play going from the actor's point of view to the directors to historical facts to the author's life etc. It is very insightful and inspring but There is only one problem I have with this book is her aggressive assumption that the only approach to Chekhov can be through Stanlisvaski's method and any other way is wrong. Now I agree that Stanislavski goes hand in hand with the Realism period but as Chekhov himself said "I wrote vaudevilles and Stanlisvaski has staged them as sentimental dramas". What is my point? That in theatre you cannot approach everything from one school of thought. We in the Theatre fight too much about Technique instead of moving audiences and transforming them. Still though, this book is worth reading and has great insights on these three playwrights.

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Summary: Excellent book on great playwrights and more!!
Review: Whether you are an actor, director, or just someone interested, these lectures of Stella's make you feel as though you are in the room with her, gaining the benefit of her years of experience in the theater. Given her father's noteworthy accomplishments in the Yiddish theater coupled with her own experience, especially that in the Group Theater, she has a unique background and a wealth of understanding that fuels her ability to convey the essence of these three playwrights and their works.

Her goal is to get the actor (or director, for that matter) to understand the heart and soul of a play and any of the roles (characters) within. Not until one really understands what's hidden between the lines, can one even think of approaching a role. Stella offers her humanity by sharing her perspectives on life and society and how they might relate to understanding a role. In the case of any playwright, she points out through wonderful examples that one must not only seek to understand the playwright, but also the time in which he or she lived. It is essentially a book sending that critical message that it's not about the lines but the life given to the role by the actor's understanding of the life of the character, which comes by seriously seeking to understand the material, its creator, the time period it takes place, etc. She reveals her life in the lectures in a way that provides a wonderful example as to how one might want to hone one's ability to find the deeper meaning hidden between the lines.

It's a great read with a lot of soul: Stella lives!!! ... and you can sit there with her while she shares her life. What a great thing!

Possibly helpful suggestion: If you aren't familiar with Ibsen, Strindberg, or Chekhov, a great way to dive in (and the approach I took) is to pick up this book along with the plays she references within. Read each play before she discusses it in the book. Or, read all of the plays for a given playwright, then approach that section of the book. This way the play is somewhat fresh in your mind. If you aren't familiar with any of the plays I'd imagine that it might be overwhelming to read all of the plays at once followed by the book.