by Mary Lou Belli and
Dinah Lenney
Unlike many books about acting, Acting for Young Actors aims to cover not one but all aspects of a stage- or film-acting career, from the basics of the craft to pretty much everything a youthful beginner might need to know about the business. Surprisingly, given that this is a pocket-sized book, it does a really good job. I can't think of a single aspect of the craft that authors Mary Lou Belli (an Emmy-winning TV director and former actor) and Dinah Lenney (actor, writer, and adjunct professor of performing arts at several prominent universities) have left out.
For starters, in clear and straightforward terms, and without ever talking down to the presumably young reader, they explain objectives, substitution, the magic "as if," subtext, and many other Stanislavsky-based techniques for constructing a character and working with others. The 11 chapters address virtually every question an aspiring youngster might have before making career-related decisions. "Who Am I?" talks about searching the script for clues about your character; "What Do I Want?" goes over the basic tools of shaping a performance; "Why Do I Want What I Want?" covers how to personalize, or "pack an emotional suitcase" that's specific and meaningful; and "Where and When" delves into script analysis. Additional chapters cover auditions, rehearsal, choosing and preparing monologues, and using improvisation as a performance form as well as in scripted work. "Acting for Money" includes gritty information on dealing with managers and agents, work permits, becoming an emancipated minor, and more; "Acting for Fun" discusses such activities as summer camp, community theatre, and the like. A final chapter features comments and helpful hints from actors, teachers, and mothers of young actors.
Interspersed in the text are simple, fun exercises; tips from various pros; and recommended books and films. The authors also use examples from classic stage plays as well as up-to-the-minute TV and film scripts. Throughout, the emphasis is on the most important things: learning to listen; acting truthfully in imaginary circumstances, as Sanford Meisner taught; and pursuing your career for the right reasons—not to be a star but because you love the art of acting enough to take it seriously.
Reviewed by Jean Schiffman