Melendez

Meyerhold directing notes

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

Studied acting under Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko
- Earliest work was characterized by an interest in realism
1913- compiled his theories developed during exploration
- Published On Theatre as a concept for a conditional theatre, which would stand in

opposition to theatrical naturalism
1920s- Emerged as leader of avant-garde movement after Revolution
- Saw an opportunity to break with the past and create new theatrical forms

AGAINST NATURALISM
The Naturalistic Theater denies that the spectator has the ability to Winish a painting in his
imagination, or to dream as he does when listening to music.
I think the analytical work of the naturalistic-director, this pasting together of the poets,
the actors, the musicians, the painters, or even the directors work, will never result in a
uniWied whole the naturalistic director, profoundly analyzing each separate part of a work,
does not see the picture as a whole

SYSTEMS OF DIRECTING
1st system of directing: Triangular Theater
The playgoer sees the work of the author and actor through the work of the director
NEGATIVE: director will rehearse until his concept is simply reproduced

Spectator

Director

Author

Actor

Melendez

Meyerhold directing notes

2nd system of directing: Straight Theater

Director incorporates work of author
Actor freely reveals soul after incorporating work of director
POSITIVE: Director does not want an exact recreation of his concept

X
Author

X
Director

X
Actor

X
Spectator

COMBINING CONVENTION WITH DIRECTION

Maintains the actor is the most important element on a stage.
The Straight Theater requires individual acting talent and technique to combat the

banality of the overly-realistic reproduction of nature the Naturalistic Theater

THEATRE OF CONVENTION
BelievedPhysical sport should be a basic training
Approach to acting called Biomechanics or Theater of the Grotesque
- Style appropriate to the increasing industrialization of the machine age
Actors were trained in gymnastics, circus movement, ballet
- Sought to replace Stanislavskys internal motivation with physical and emotional

reWlexes
Plastic ideas: movements separate from words
- Gestures and postures from which an observer can guess inner, concealed feelings
Rejection of naturalism is necessary because:
- The human body and the accessories surrounding it are all three-dimensional,

and therefore a theater where the actor is the most important factor must be based

on the plastic arts and not on painting.