Acting: The First Six Lessons

Father and daughter Beau and Emily Bridges have adapted Richard Boleslavsky's 1933 book, "Acting: The First Six Lessons, into an 80-minute play directed by Charlie Mount that brings to life the great building blocks of great performances. The Bridges also portray the two characters of the book: the acting coach and the young, at first inept, student, known throughout as the Teacher and the Creature. This production dispenses charm and information with equal facility, but at this point it needs sharper direction to urge it aloft.

Short lessons in "concentration" and "memory of emotions," unfolding in his home studio, begin the relationship between the two. "Dramatic action" involves a long walk around a lake to discuss problems inherent in film acting. "Rhythm" finds teacher and student at the top of the Empire State Building, observing a differently paced New York City.

Moments that stumble here include "characterization," in which the Creature takes on Ophelia. Her first version is the standard weepy effort, perfectly nailing what is wrong with so many Ophelias. But despite Teacher's wonderful suggestion that Ophelia must not break down, Creature works on the scene again with minimal reduction in wailing. Also not quite satisfying is the lesson on "observation," in which Emily is either portraying Creature's aunt or portraying Creature portraying her aunt. Music that interrupts each scene to underline the key moment in the lesson is unnecessary and distracting.

On the other hand, moments that not only work but also prove magical include a discussion of Ophelia's hands. Says the Teacher, they are not the modern hands of a tennis player; instead, think of hands in a Botticelli painting. And somehow the Creature, Emily, and the audience are suddenly looking at delicate, boneless hands offering "remembrances" to Hamlet. Emily's young actor gently grows up over the play, and Beau cleanly etches his various characters, including a clumsy film director and an impatient régisseur.

And, by the way, for those offended by the term "creature" to describe a young actor, please notice the root "create."


Presented by and at Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd., L.A. April 9–May 16. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. (323) 851-7977. www.theatrewest.org.