Acting One

Rating:
Summary: An excellent text for both the instructor and student.
Review: His concepts of conflict and theatricality are excellent. Goal, Obstacle, Tactic and Expectation (GOTE)lead to a complete understanding of the actor's craft. For the beginner, this concept is absolutly necessary; the young actor now has a deep understanding of what makes an action theatrical and interesting. Through Cohen's work,the actor can understand and apply Stanislvaski's "beats."

Rating:
Summary: Great book from an insightful author
Review: I have read through Cohen's "Theatre" and "Acting One" and both are outstanding books on theatre for any actor. It is almost as good as Sidney Lumet's "Making Movies," but without all the fun stories about movie stars. This is one book I actually read for fun, and keep it in my glove compartment when I prepare for auditions. I am glad I am going to the school where this man teaches.

Rating:
Summary: Useful but overstuffed introductory acting text
Review: The First Six lessons--goal and obstacle, the other, tactics, expectation, and their summary "GOTE" -- are excellent and concise. Unfortuantely, the book covers a great deal more ground than an introductory class could hope to cover. THe other chapters make good reading, and a student who decides s/he's serious about pursuing acting as a craft would be well served by owning this text. The casual student would be less well served.

Rating:
Summary: Great book from an insightful author
Review: The First Six lessons--goal and obstacle, the other, tactics, expectation, and their summary "GOTE" -- are excellent and concise. Unfortuantely, the book covers a great deal more ground than an introductory class could hope to cover. THe other chapters make good reading, and a student who decides s/he's serious about pursuing acting as a craft would be well served by owning this text. The casual student would be less well served.