In the book, the actors in the class have been working on pieces from "Spoon River Anthology". These pieces are very interesting, because they are written more like poetry than monologues. Therefore, it is easy to see why the students would struggle with some of the pieces; it takes a different sort of mindset to approach the speeches and perform them realistically and with emotion, rather than just reading them off the page. Despite initial difficulties, Meisner's advice and comments seem to assist the actors in giving a satisfying performance. He emphasizes the importance of preparation as well as "letting it all out"; when one student begins to tear up hesitantly during her piece, he excitedly encourages her to cry. One technique that he suggested which I found interesting was to perform the piece in your own words after reading it a few times, then go back to the script as written, and then continue with the improvisation of the text. I plan on trying this method the next time I am preparing a monologue.
"The first thing you have to do when you read a text is to find yourself - really find yourself. First you find yourself, then you find a way of doing the part which strikes you as being in character. Then, based on that reality, you have the nucleus of the role. Otherwise every shmuck from Erasmus Hall High School is an actor because everyone there knows how to read."
To be honest, I haven't had much time lately to truly make a lot of progress in this book. I have so much going on, with school, rehearsal, and other commitments, so Sandy has been put on the back burner for a while. However, whenever I do get a few moments to sit down and read a little, I am reminded of what a genius Meisner really is. His comments are not only hilarious and witty, but one hundred percent spot on in relation to what he has just seen and what he is trying to teach to his students. As I read, I imagine what the men and women in this class must have been thinking, and I wonder if they realized how truly lucky they were to have such an incredible mentor. It would be really interesting to see where these people are now - if they are still acting, if they still use the techniques that Meisner taught them, and if they look back fondly on their time in his class. Perhaps if I read on I will find out the answers to these pressing questions.
"It's the theater that interests me, not acting. I don't like actors very much, though I do like to act. It's enjoyable - sometimes. But I don't like what it brings to the surface in my personality: the self-centeredness, the childish vanity, the infantilism. That's what an actor has to have."
