Will Power: How to Act Shakespeare in 21 Days

by John Basil and Stephanie Gunning

Book Overview

"Actor, director, producer, and teacher Basil (cofounder, American Globe Theatre) offers a three-week course that demystifies the English playwright and prepares actors to play Shakespearean roles with confidence. ...his practical instructions should benefit both students and working actors." -Library Journal, starred review

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1557836663
• ISBN13: 9781557836663
• Release Date: September 2006
• Publisher: Applause Books
• Length: 374 Pages
• Weight: 1.37 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Best book ever!

It doesn't matter if you are a high school student trying to get the hang of the language or a professional actor trying to improve on your knowlege this book will help. Straightforward, logical and lots and lots of fun.

The play's the thing - just DO it!

John Basil is on a mission to end "butt-acting" - the kind where you just sit in a chair and silently read a play. Bringing Shakespeare's great words to life is the highest artistic goal of many actors, and the best work hard at conditioning their voices and bodies, often for decades, to do his great roles justice. Basil understands that the most productive and entertaining way to study Shakespeare is on one's feet!

Every Emerging Shakespearean Actor Needs This Book

Every good actor knows how helpful a coach can be when tackling Shakespeare. Unfortunately, not every theatre can afford to get you one. With "Will Power," John Basil offers an almost endless variety of choices and discoveries that can be made by breaking preparation down into twenty-one separate exploratory processes. This is a fantastic resource in an arena where even the best performers can always use a new way of looking at and taking on their work.

Shakespeare isn't scary

I love this book! It took away my fear of Shakespeare.

You Needn't Fear...

This is what every high school English student ought to hear: "You needn't fear the language - it's specially designed to involve and support you." And so John Basil begins 'Will Power,' a book which makes the complex mechanics of performing Shakespeare manageable and UNDERSTANDABLE. He's not giving you narrow interpretations but teaching you how to get into the text enough/understand the background so you can form your own conclusions. Obviously, performing Shakespeare isn't easy. But Basil's approach really helps - a different focus each day, checklists, practice hints, etc. You hone your alliteration skills. Discover why certain words are capitalized (it DOES make a difference!) And he gives tips on how to make the performance more authentic (the Globe didn't have electricity! Emphasis based on body language and eye contact becomes even more important.) Whether you're acting in one of Shakespeare's plays or simply want a different approach to understanding his writings, this book is definitely worth the read.