Important Defintions

Stanislavsky's Terms And Definitions With Explanations

Mellow Drama - When the personality of the actor is more important than the character being played.

This was seen as entirely unrealistic and not naturalistic acting as it mainly consisted of big gestures and fixed movements that related to the actor instead of the character. This was most commonly seen in theaters during the time before and during Stanislavsky as naturalism had not been practiced commonly.  The actors did not become the character and instead demonstrated the character. When acting there was a tenseness to the face and it was said that audiences went to see celebrities (similar to this day and age) instead of the play. The performances were not challenging or controversial - they did not touch on subjects that may have been frowned upon during that time or that were considered taboo. Instead they gave the audience what they wanted (similar to modern day politics).

Affectation - Putting on an airy voice that is not real when actors are not able to drop their own personal mannerisms and let go.

Instead of letting go, actors studied other actors and copied the performance and its set moves without using life and their own personal experiences to help them connect to the character they instead mimic exactly what they had seen previous actors do before them. Stanislavsky believed in using ones own life to become a better actor as he says 'The most important director of Theatre - life.' - Stanislavsky.

Naturalism - A form of Theatre designed to create the illusion of reality for an audience. Originated in the late 19th century.

This began as a literary movement in the late 19th century and consisted of 'real people doing real things'. And instead of the non controversial topics that had been performed previously this consisted of real topics (society, characters, social structures etc.) Naturalism was seen as a way of holding up a mirror to life so that it more realistic and not fantastical and by the end of the 1900's a lot of writers wrote this way. One writer that does this Ibsen and he does this through symbolism (The use of images or things (usually physical, like a flag) that stand for or represent something else, usually something abstract like a nation)). He does this through Hedda.

Stanislavsky believed it was extremely important to relax on stage as this was the only effective way that one was able to access imagination and creativity and the only way you will truly be able to listen to those on stage with you and react to to what they are saying accordingly. Action=>Reaction=>Decision=>Action etc. Acting however is not just about the action as their is power in stillness and in the silence.