Stanislavski In Rehearsal

2008 is the 70th anniversary of Stanislavski's death, there will be much publicity and a major new publication by the author One of the most valuable and accessible books on Stanislavski's personality and working method Contains a minimum of theory and jargon A first-hand account of Stanislavski's work with actors

Although already an accomplished artist, Vasili Toporkov was forced to retrain as an actor under Stanislavski's rigorous guidance. This is Toporkov's account of this learning process, offering an insight into Stanislavski's legendary "system".A rare insider's account of the true story behind the development of the famous Stanislavski method. Vasili Toporkov was one of the rare outsiders ever to be invited to join the Moscow Art Theatre. Although already an experienced and accomplished artist, he was forced to retrain as an actor under Stanislavski's rigorous guidance. Stanislavski in Rehearsal is Toporkov's vivid account of this learning process, offering an eloquent and jargon-free insight into Stanislavski's legendary 'system' and his method of rehearsal that became known as the Method of Physical Action. Spanning ten years - from 1928 to 1938 - Toporkov charts the last crucial years of Stanislavski's work as a director and offers the only reliable biographical sketch that we have. Through Toporkov's account, Stanislavski is revealed as a multi-faceted personality - funny, furious, kind, ruthless, encouraging, exacting - waging a war against cliches and quick answers, inspiring his actors and driving them to despair in his pursuit of artistic perfection.