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A review by mschlat
The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act by Isaac Butler
5.0
Maybe just 4.5 stars, but there's so much to love in this work.....
Butler has written a biography of method acting, starting with its Russian origins (with Stanislavski as the primary creator), continuing with its transformation in the United States (with Strasberg and Adler), and ending with the realization that all acting is now influenced by "the system", even if pure adherents are increasingly hard to find. And what Butler does beautifully is explain how the different manifestations of "method" reflected the cultures in which they arose: how Russian theatre needed a more emotional approach to revolt against traditional portrayals, and how American actors and playwrights worked together in the 30's through the 60's to build a uniquely national style of authenticity and social relevance. It's entertainingly written and hits all the points I expected (Brando, Dean) and some I wasn't (I didn't know how much Marilyn Monroe was connected to the Strasberg family).
Butler does a good job of covering all the responses to method acting; this isn't a worshipful account of any one school or even the necessity of the approach. (He regularly brings up the British actors who state that method acting is useless for Shakespeare.) He's also willing to bring up the more distasteful aspects of different method teachers (with Lee Strasberg being accused by some of practicing psychotherapy in his classes without a license).
The result is an excellent cultural critique that helped me immensely in understanding the personalities and their impact on 20th century theatre.
Butler has written a biography of method acting, starting with its Russian origins (with Stanislavski as the primary creator), continuing with its transformation in the United States (with Strasberg and Adler), and ending with the realization that all acting is now influenced by "the system", even if pure adherents are increasingly hard to find. And what Butler does beautifully is explain how the different manifestations of "method" reflected the cultures in which they arose: how Russian theatre needed a more emotional approach to revolt against traditional portrayals, and how American actors and playwrights worked together in the 30's through the 60's to build a uniquely national style of authenticity and social relevance. It's entertainingly written and hits all the points I expected (Brando, Dean) and some I wasn't (I didn't know how much Marilyn Monroe was connected to the Strasberg family).
Butler does a good job of covering all the responses to method acting; this isn't a worshipful account of any one school or even the necessity of the approach. (He regularly brings up the British actors who state that method acting is useless for Shakespeare.) He's also willing to bring up the more distasteful aspects of different method teachers (with Lee Strasberg being accused by some of practicing psychotherapy in his classes without a license).
The result is an excellent cultural critique that helped me immensely in understanding the personalities and their impact on 20th century theatre.