Every speech, for Olivier, is like a mass of marble at which the sculptor chips away until its essential form and meaning are revealed. No matter how ignoble the character he plays, the result is always noble as a work of art. (p. 208)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Olivier treats speeches like sculpture, removing excess to reveal noble meaning regardless of the character.
- In plain terms
- He shapes speeches carefully to make them meaningful and noble.
- What can you take from it?
- Craft reveals essence through subtraction.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What makes performance noble?
- Is less always more?
Another view
Not all great acting relies on removing elements.
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