AbstractsPsychology

('Pata)physicist

by Austin Blakely




Institution: University of California – Santa Cruz
Department:
Year: 2016
Keywords: Theater; Theater history; acting; gombrowicz; ivona; jarry; pataphysics; theory
Posted: 02/05/2017
Record ID: 2133565
Full text PDF: http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/7j557268


Abstract

In search of an acting method, an actor recounts past experiences. Konstantin Stanislavski’s work in An Actor Prepares, is applied to my role of Simon in UCSC’s production of Witold Gombrowicz’s Princess Ivona in Fall of 2015. My work on the role is discussed, along with beat breakdowns, informed intentions, historical context, and given circumstances. In the interest of improvement, Alfred Jarry’s ’Pataphysics as laid out in Exploits and Opinions of Doctor Faustroll, Pataphysician is explored in an attempt to revise my approach to acting. An openness to possibilities is discovered and further synthesized while working under Art Manke in the Jewel Theater’s production of No ̈el Coward’s Fallen Angels. Upon discovering the possibilities that had been missed in the production of Ivona, I surmised that my goals for the show had been unrealized. I reimagine other potential possibilities for my role as well as the show from a directorial standpoint. In conclusion, the notion of an acting method is refuted in the argument that a preconceived system of acting closes the actor from experiencing all possibilities.