Two Methods

New Zealand Listener, Volume 41, Issue 1049, 2 October 1959, Page 20

Two Methods

‘THE BBC The Actor, His Role and the Method (1YC) is not the first radio programme in which the "Method" style of acting has been discussed, but it is to my mind the best, because what began as a debate about the. American adaptation of Stanislavsky’s techniques broadened out into an examination of the whole art of acting. As was to be expected, Sir Donald Wolfit, who is probably the last survivor of the oldstyle actor-manager, and whose own acting is in the full-blooded declamatory style, roundly defended the lyric theatre, the passion-tearing approach and traditional emphasis on the actor.

But Sam Wanamaker, skilful, courteous, patient and highly intelligent, made point after point in favour of naturalistic acting for naturalistic plays, so that what looked at one stage as if it might become a wrangle ended up with considerable agreement upon the value of different styles for different plays and on the cathartic effect of true theatre, however achieved. This discussion is excellent meat for anyone interested in the stage, If, when the gong went, I felt that Mr Wanamaker had won on points, Sir Donald had made some trenchant cémments I won’t easily forget on the higher dramatic illusion beyond the reach of mere realism.

J.C.

R.