An Actor Prepares

Perhaps the most oft-repeated through line in the text is Stanislavski’s emphasis on the work and process of learning to act. Although there are serendipitous moments of inspiration that come on suddenly, the vast majority of the method requires the actor to train through practice and discipline. The purpose of the system is to teach the actor how to reliably and consistently perform, regardless of that which he cannot control. At the beginning of the text, Kostya demonstrates the unreliability of his art. He finds what he feels are moments of brilliance while practicing in his room but cannot recreate them when he performs for an audience. By thoroughly working through the acting system, however, he learns how to repeat a performance so that it’s fresh each time. Tortsov also teaches students how to mine those moments of inspiration in order to recreate them. The system requires dedication and perseverance over talent, which seems to be an elusive and unreliable quality.

Not only does the process require repetition and rehearsal, but it is a progressive method in which certain aspects do not become clear until later stages of learning.