A Practical Handbook for the Actor

This simple and essential book about the craft of acting describes a technique developed and refined by the authors, all of them young actors, in their work with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet, actor W. H. Macy, and director Gregory Mosher. *A Practical Handbook for the Actor* is written for any actor who has ever experienced the frustrations of acting classes that lacked clarity and objectivity, and that failed to provide a dependable set of tools. An actor's job, the authors state, is to "find a way to live truthfully under the imaginary circumstances of the play." The ways in which an actor can attain that truth form the substance of this eloquent book.
*From the Trade Paperback edition.*

Less then 100 pages, but great concise advice are contained within. This little book goes over a method on how to analyze a character's actions within a script to bring an enhance the performance of an actor. Reading this will help me in the future develop believable and engaging performances in theatre. A good one to go back and refer to from time to time.

"The action must not be a simple restating of the answer to the first question, What is the character literally doing? This is because you will never be able to believe that you are the character you are playing. It is simply not possible, unless you are dangerously psychotic, and if that is the case, this book will be of little use to you."