This is the second book in the Stanislavski trilogy—An Actor Prepares, Building A Character and Creating A Role. It is essential to read this volume because in it, Stanislavski continues to outline a strategy for acting and moves on from the more psychological elements found in An Actor Prepares. The physical work emphasized in this book shows us a side of the work that many people have overlooked and undervalued.
This book covers many topics including physicalization, characterization, movement, voice production, and speaking. We are introduced to the important concepts of tempo and rhythm and restraint and control. Stanislavski unites the concepts of the first book with the second and he concludes with a section on ethics that has not aged one day since it was written.
As I mentioned in an earlier review, a new translation, which combines An Actor Prepares and Building A Character, has recently come out and it is a little easier to read. I’ll be reviewing that soon but I still encourage you to pick up Building A Character. As you read, make notes in the margins, highlight important passages, and make the book your own. Like the other books in the trilogy, Building a Character is written from the viewpoint of a student in an acting class, which makes the book an enjoyable read and the lessons easy to understand. Moreover, they are lessons that are of value to every working actor and every actor that wants to work.