Meyerhold, Eisenstein and Biomechanics: Actor Training in Revolutionary Russia

by Alma Law

Overview

Russian theater director Vsevolod Meyerhold designed Biomechanics—a system of actor training—shortly after the Russian Revolution. Although not always understood, it received wide attention as a result of Meyerhold's unique position as the foremost Soviet avant-garde director. Meyerhold had students that both perfected and challenged his theories in actor training—including the film director Sergei Eisenstein.

Gathered from private Moscow archives, this is the first book-length study of Meyerhold's stylized training method in practical detail, as well as Eisenstein's theoretical analysis of Biomechanics. The book traces the history and theoretical foundations of Biomechanics and Expressive Movement, with descriptions of the basic biomechanical exercises and etudes. It also includes a glossary of biomechanical terminology and bibliographical information.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786467501
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	02/08/2012
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	294
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

The late Alma Law was coeditor of Slavic and East European Theater. The late Mel Gordon was a former professor of dramatic art at the University of California at Berkeley.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 1

Part I Meyerhold and Eisenstein

1 Meyerhold: From Actor to Revolutionary Director 13

2 Meyerhold: From Biomechanics to the Triumph of Socialist Realism 33

3 Eisenstein: From Engineer to Revolutionary Filmmaker 74

Part II Biomechanics

4 Introduction 95

5 Biomechanical Exercises 99

6 Description of the Exercises 106

7 Program of Studies 124

Part III Documents

8 Meyerhold on Biomechanics 131

Biomechanics of Vsevolod Meyerhold M. Korenev 133

The Biomechanical Laboratory M. Korenev 134

Principles of Biomechanics M. Korenev 135

Meyerhold Demonstrates a Biomechanical Exercise Erast Garin 139

The Actor of the Future and Biomechanics V.-Es. 141

Biomechanics According to Meyerhold Ippolit Sokolov 144

Taylorism on the Stage Arkady Pozdnev 148

Project: Profile of the Actor Graduating from the Meyerhold State Theatre School 151

Promptbook for "The Magnanimous Cuckhold" 160

9 Eisenstein on Biomechanics and Expressive Movement 163

Notes on Biomechanics Sergei Eisenstein 164

Principles of Movement in Our Theatre Sergei Eisenstein 167

What Is a "Raccourci" and What Is a Pose? Sergei Eisenstein 168

At Rehearsals of "The Wiseman" Aleksandr Levshin 170

Expressive Movement Sergei Eisenstein Sergei Treryakov 173

On Recoil Movement Sergei Eisenstein 192

Lecture on Biomechanics, March 29, 1935 Sergei Eisenstein 204

10 International Accounts of Biomechanics 224

An Interview with Meyerhold at the Theatre of the Revolution Lancelot Lawton 225

How Meyerhold Trains his Actors John Martin 228

Biomechanics in Meyerhold's Theatre André Van Gyseghem 233

Notes on Biomechanics Lee Strasberg 236

Notes on Eisenstein's Lectures, 1934 Marie Seton 238

A Biomechanical Session Harold Clurman 252

Part IV Appendices

Glossary of Biomechanical Terminology 257

Notes 259

Selected Bibliography 273

Index 275

Editorial Reviews

useful...a helpful sourcebook”—Choice; “the subject of this book is of enormous importance to an understanding of twentieth century Russian and Soviet art, culture and especially theatre...the book will be welcomed by both theatre scholars and practitioners, and especially by those who wish to go beyond the usual actor training syllabus, and engage with something which will challenge and stimulate in equal measure”—Revolutionary Russia; “this is a sourcebook which gathers a wide range of previously unavailable material...Law and Gordon’s analysis will make a significant contribution to the ongoing process of re-evaluating the role of Biomechanics in the past as well as in the future”—Theatre Research International; “this panorama illustrates the lasting relationship between Eisenstein and Meyerhold”—International Theatre Informations

From the Publisher

A study of Russian theater director Vsevolod Meyerhold's stylized training method, Biomechanics, incorporating Russian film director Sergei Eisenstein's theoretical analysis of the method. Presents the basic principles of movement that Meyerhold and Eisenstein pioneered, traces the history of Biomechanics in relation to their aesthetic development, and describes basic Biomechanical exercises, drawing on newspaper accounts, letters, diaries, eyewitness accounts, and transcribed materials from public and private archives. Contains b&w photos and a glossary. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

this is a sourcebook which gathers a wide range of previously unavailable material...Law and Gordon's analysis will make a significant contribution to the ongoing process of re-evaluating the role of Biomechanics in the past as well as in the future

Theatre Research International

the subject of this book is of enormous importance to an understanding of twentieth century Russian and Soviet art, culture and especially theatre...the book will be welcomed by both theatre scholars and practitioners, and especially by those who wish to go beyond the usual actor training syllabus, and engage with something which will challenge and stimulate in equal measure

Revolutionary Russia

useful...a helpful sourcebook

Choice