Synopsis

In order to create a living character on the stage, the actor needs more than masterful technique. He must work on the play in a way that will enable him to understand the meaning of each of the roles in it, and the nature of the relations between these roles. Stanislavsky developed his method of working on the play and the role over many years, but because it was constantly being modified and improved, only fragments of the method were ever recorded. Now Irina and Igor Levin have systematized the method, clearly setting forth its principles and demonstrating precisely how they are put to use. Using the complete text of Chekhov's 'The Cherry Orchard' and breaking it into individual 'events', they take the reader through each situation in the plya, exploring the motivations and feelings of the characters. The reader emergest with a fine understanding of the play and its roles, and with a method that can be used successfully to analyze any drama.