Taylor and Francis

Taylor and Francis

English

'In this succinct guide, Ruscio draws on his successful 40-year career of film and stage experience and his professional acting training with Sandy Meisner at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse School. He provides a plethora of practical, thorough, realistic advice in 41 bite-size chapters organized into five parts. His goal is to provide experiences that will help actors find truth and depth in their characters at all times, and to offer useful information about scene work and rehearsal processes for beginning to intermediate actors. He breaks down the salient points about each element of acting with examples and exercises including stage versus film acting, and how stamina and luck play a part in actor's lives. Part 1, "Warming Up," is foundational yet goes beyond other texts for beginning actors by including activities based on animal and life studies for character development. In part 2, "Scene Work," Ruscio emphasizes emotional truth and the importance of finding the spine--or main force--driving the character and the play. Throughout, he shares fascinating, humorous, and inspirational anecdotes from his experiences working with actors and directors ranging from Laurence Olivier to Matt Damon. Summing Up: Highly recommended.' J. Tomalin, CHOICE