Theatre & performanceLesson 4 of 5 in the course Acting

Meisner Acting: Repetition Exercises, Training Progression, and Legacy

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

The Meisner technique is an approach to acting developed by Sanford Meisner. This lesson introduces its central focus on listening and responding to scene partners, then examines the Repetition Exercise as a practical way to cultivate spontaneous behavior.

The goal of the Meisner approach is for actors to concentrate on the other people in the scene rather than becoming absorbed in themselves or in thoughts and feelings they have decided belong to the character. The actor listens to a partner and responds to what is actually happening between them in the moment.

All flashcards

What is the central focus of the Meisner approach?
The actor focuses on scene partners and responds to their behavior in the moment, rather than concentrating mainly on the actor’s own thoughts or preplanned feelings.
What happens in the basic Repetition Exercise?
Two actors sit across from each other and repeat a phrase about one another, listening and responding as the exchange develops.
How does the Repetition Exercise progress from its starting point?
It can begin with an external observation, such as clothing, and develop into observations about behavior between the actors.
Why can the same repeated phrase change in meaning?
The actors’ behavior, tone, and intensity change during the exchange, so the phrase reflects what is happening between them rather than functioning as a fixed line.
What is a line reading, and how does the exercise address it?
A line reading is a fixed way of delivering dialogue. The exercise discourages fixed delivery by coordinating speech with the actor’s behavioral response.

Quiz questions

  1. Where does the Meisner approach direct an actor’s primary attention during a scene?Answer: Toward scene partners and their behavior in the moment.
  2. How can a phrase in the Repetition Exercise develop over time?Answer: It can shift from a visible detail to behavior between the actors.
  3. Why can repetition help an actor respond more spontaneously?Answer: It encourages listening and reacting instead of planning each response.
  4. How are speech and behavior related during the Repetition Exercise?Answer: Speech can change in coordination with the actor’s behavioral response.
  5. How are exercises arranged in Meisner training?Answer: They build progressively toward more complex work.

Based on the Wikipedia article Meisner technique, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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