You are not signed in. Sign in.

List Books: Buy books on ListBooks.org

The Actor and the Text » (1st Edition)

Book cover image of The Actor and the Text by Cicely Berry

Authors: Cicely Berry, Trevor Nunn
ISBN-13: 9781557831385, ISBN-10: 1557831386
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Applause Theatre Book Publishers
Date Published: February 2000
Edition: 1st Edition

Find Best Prices for This Book »

Author Biography: Cicely Berry

Book Synopsis

These words of Cicely Berry, the voice director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, speak to anyone who needs to speak his or her piece - in any arena, at sales meetings or religious revivals. Berry's book will insure that the speaker and the text gets heard - accurately and with true emotional range. Never again will one be accused of simply "reading a prepared statement." Berry's exercises to develop relaxation, breathing and muscular control will literally help everyone breathe easier when confronting the printed page.

Table of Contents

Foreword7
Acknowledgments8
Introduction9
Pt. 1Attitudes to Voice and Text
Ch. 1Sound and Meaning14
1Attitudes to voice15
2The practical means24
Ch. 2Heightened versus Naturalistic Text32
Pt. 2Shakespeare - Setting out the Rules
Ch. 3Metre and Rhythm52
Ch. 4Structures, Energy, Imagery and Sound82
1Energy through the text82
2Antithesis90
3Substance of the word95
4Discovery and movement of thought104
5Nature of the image, its logic, and its inquiry into nature110
6Argument and emotion115
7Word games and patterns121
8Structure of speeches128
Pt. 3Shakespeare - the Practical Means
Ch. 5Introduction to the Exercises140
Ch. 6Substance of the Text143
1Sounds: vowels and consonants143
2Nearing the language: substance of text148
3Language fabric157
Ch. 7Metre and Energy171
1Metre171
2Energy through the text178
3Subversion - or making language your own185
Ch. 8Acting, Text and Style189
Ch. 9Further Points of Text205
1Prose205
2Heightened music213
3Scene structures220
4Recap on speech structures229
5Sonnets240
Ch. 10Relating to Other Texts251
1Jacobean text251
2Restoration text253
3Formal modern text254
4Modern text255
Pt. 4Voice Work
Ch. 11Preparation260
1Finding the space260
2Using poetry265
3Cadence and note273
Ch. 12Further Voice Exercises274
Further Perspectives285
Index of Quotations297
Quotes by Subject301

Subjects