The theater is perhaps one of the special places where people come in contact with culture. The theater was and remains a favorite place of all cultural people who appreciate the beauty of art and the talent of actors. However, from the twentieth century in Russia, such a phrase as "the theater of one actor" has come into widespread use. After a short time, this phrase became a kind of aphorism, a winged expression that everyone uses, but basically no one knows its meaning and basic essence. So what is a one-man theater?
Simple answer to an interesting question
Everyone knows that all catchphrases have developed historically. So in this case. In the 20s of the past century, the Sovremennik Theater was created, which was popularly called the Theater of One Actor. The whole thing was that there was only one actor playing there: the famous Vladimir Nikolaevich Yakhontov. Great man, founder of the one-man genre.
Phrase meaning
In various senses, the expression "one-man theater" is now used. The meaning of the phrase has changed a little now, and use it both in the literal and figurative sense.
- In the literal sense, having heard the phrase “one-actor theater”, a person understands that this is a theater, where the director and the performer are the same person. That is, this performance with a single performer.
- In a figurative sense, this expression means a company, organization or team, the whole success of which depends on one person, or the whole thing rests on a single character.
A bit of history
The theater of one actor as an independent and professional kind appeared in Russia in the twentieth century. Naturally, over the ten centuries of its existence, this theater has actively developed and changed in the genre and even in the hierarchy within the genre system. Today, in the theater of one actor, one can distinguish such areas as:
- Fiction reading.
- Fiction story.
- Theatre of Drama.
Author's theater, in turn, can easily find itself in these three genres.
Interestingly, the famous playwright wrote: `` An individual is only foam on the water. '' But today, the theater seems to concentrate on the personality of one director / actor. Since this particular person will help to find the truth. Perhaps this is what was revealed to the great thinker G. Shpet when he back in the thirties of the last century argued: `` Theatrical stage act is an act of an actor. '' Indeed, in the theater, dramatic actions should begin with the development of internal drama.
After all, it was no accident that Tairov addressed the actors with the following words: '' You are a creative person who concocts and realizes masterpieces of art. It is you and your body that is the necessary tool that, together with your personality, turns into a stage image and gives rise to a work of art created in the process of your creativity. '' Based on this, in many performances not only other actors are absent, but also a props, which further increases the tension.
Based on the foregoing, it can be argued that directorial searches around the actor ultimately led to the emergence of such a genre as a single-actor theater.
Actor in various genres of theater
Theater 1 actor ... It is terrible to imagine how difficult it is for a person playing in it. As stated by the philosopher P. Ricoeur, in a dramatic text, statements should be visible. That is, if artistic narration and reading can only be heard, then the drama theater of one actor needs to be watched. Indeed, it is only thanks to the physical presence of the character and the dialogue of the actor with the audience that one can achieve the correctness and completeness of the artistic impression. As E. Ionesco assured: `` In the drama they say not words, but images. '' And only a combination of psychotechnical and psychophysical means will help to achieve this. Here you can highlight the flexibility of the actor, the ability to freely use sign language and facial expressions.
Another approach and requirements for an actor performing fiction or storytelling. The basic requirements include the voice and range of the actor, since he must get used to the role and 'show' different emotions only by reading.
One-man show: Isn't that boring?
Many do not understand how you can have fun sitting in the theater for two hours and looking at the same actor. Some people think solo performances are boring. However, let me argue. Imagine: one scene. One statement. And only one person.
At all times, starting with the creation of this type of theatrical art, performances have always been more intense than ordinary performances. And there is a simple explanation for this: after all, in this case, the actor faces an unimaginably difficult task - to open the entire arsenal of his talent and on the stage to make the transformation from one hero to another. And the fact that it is very difficult, I think, is clear to everyone. This explains that not every actor wants and can play in a one-man show. For example, everyone wants to play Hamlet, but there are only a few who agree to play the show with all the complex characters alone. That is why today in Moscow there are few performances of one actor.
How can an actor achieve a compelling performance?
First of all, it is a talent, a gift. As they say, they do not become actors, they are born actors. But, of course, work and work on oneself also have an important place. Some people think that one-man theater is something same as public speaking. In a way, it is. And success here in most cases depends on the artistry, originality and emotionality of the actor. And most importantly, start from the right direction. And for this he needs to develop in himself:
- Emotionality and sensuality.
- Fantasy and imagination.
- Non-verbal means of communication: intonation, facial expressions, movement / gestures.
After all, standing on a huge stage alone, without these qualities it is impossible to reach the goal. But one can’t do without imagination, because one will have to improvise very often.
In the end
Someone will say that the theater begins with a hanger. Maybe. But the theater is, first of all, an actor. An artist with a rich inner world, innate talent, a person who can alone, for hours on end, keep the viewer in admiration, in tension. And the theater of one actor is like a higher bar, like art of the highest standard. And only an actor who is truly passionately loving theater can give the viewer the full power of acting.
It seems that every person should visit a solo performance at least once in his life. And perhaps, after the first time, it will become a favorite form of theatrical art for the one who visits it. It will become a place where everyone will willingly return again and again. After all, this is something special, unique and inimitable. This is proved by the fact that, based on this theatrical genre, a popular expression has gone into the people.