The theater is perhaps one of the special places where a person comes into contact with culture. The theater has been and remains a favorite place for all cultured people who appreciate the beauty of art and the talent of actors. However, since the 20th century, such a phrase as "the theater of one actor" has come into wide use in Russia. After a short time, this phrase became a kind of aphorism, a catch phrase that everyone uses, but basically no one knows its meaning and main essence. So what is one-man theatre?
A simple answer to an interesting question
Everyone knows that all catch phrases have developed historically. So it is in this case. In the 1920s, the Sovremennik Theater was created, which was popularly called the One Actor Theater. The whole trick was that only one actor played there: the famous Vladimir Nikolaevich Yakhontov. Great man, founder of the genre one-man show''.
Meaning of the phrase
The expression "one-man theater" is now used in various senses. The meaning of the phrase has changed a little now, and it is used both literally and figuratively.
- In the literal sense, having heard the phrase "one-actor theater", a person understands that we are talking about a theater where the director and the performer are the same person. That is, this is a performance with a single performer.
- In a figurative sense, this expression means a company, organization or team, the entire success of which depends on one person, or the whole thing rests on a single character.
A bit of history
The one-man theater as an independent and professional form appeared in Russia in the 20th century. Naturally, over the ten centuries of its existence, this theater has actively developed and changed in genre and even in the hierarchy within the genre system. To date, in the theater of one actor, such directions can be distinguished as:
- Fiction reading.
- Fictional story.
- Drama Theatre.
Author's theatre, in turn, can easily find itself in these three genres.
It is interesting that the famous playwright wrote: ''An individual is only foam on the water''. But today the theater seems to concentrate around the personality of one director/actor. Since it is this person who will help to find the truth. Perhaps this is what was revealed to the great thinker G. Shpet when he was still inIn the thirties of the last century, he asserted: ''Theatrical stage act is the act of an actor''. Indeed, in the theater, dramatic actions should begin with the development of internal drama.
It was not without reason that Tairov addressed the actors with the following words: ''You are a creative person who conceives and implements masterpieces of art. It is you and your body that is the necessary tool that, together with your individuality, turns into a stage image and gives birth to a work of art created in the process of your creativity.'' Based on this, many performances lack not only other actors, but also props, which further increase the tension.
Based on the above, it can be argued that the director's search around the actor eventually led to the emergence of such a genre as the one-man theater.
Actor in different theater genres
Theater of 1 actor… It's scary to imagine how difficult it is for the person playing in it. As the philosopher P. Ricoeur stated, statements in a dramatic text should be visible. That is, if artistic storytelling and reading can only be heard, then the drama theater of one actor must be watched. After all, it is only through 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, not words speak, but images''. And only a combination of psychotechnical and psychophysical means will help to achieve this. Here you can highlight the flexibilityactor, the ability to freely use the language of gestures and facial expressions.
Another approach and requirements for an actor performing fiction reading or storytelling. The main requirements include the actor's voice and range, as he must get used to the role and 'show' different emotions just by reading.
One-man show: isn't that boring?
Many do not understand how you can enjoy sitting in the theater for two hours and looking at the same actor. Some people think solo shows are boring. However, let me object. Imagine: one scene. One staging. And only one person.
At all times, since 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 discover the entire arsenal of his talent and on stage to transform into one character, then into another. And the fact that it is very difficult, I think, is clear to everyone. This explains why not every actor wants and can play in a one-man show. For example, every person dreams of playing Hamlet, but there are only a few who agree to play the play with all the complex characters alone. That is why there are few performances of one actor in Moscow today.
How does an actor achieve a convincing performance?
First of all, it is a talent, a kind of gift. As they say, actors are not made, actors are born. But,Naturally, work and self-improvement also have an important place. Some believe that one-man theater is the 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 the most important thing is to start in 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 alone on a huge stage, without these qualities it is impossible to reach your goal. And there is no way to do without imagination, because you will have to improvise very often.
Finally
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, a natural talent, a person who can alone, for hours on end, keep the viewer in admiration, in suspense. And the theater of one actor is like the highest bar, like the art of the highest standard. And only an actor who truly passionately loves the theater can make the viewer feel the full power of acting.
I think everyone should visit a one-man show at least once in their life. And perhaps, after the first time, it will become a favorite type of theatrical art for those who visit it. It will become a place where everyone will willingly return again and again. After all, this is somethingspecial, unique and unrepeatable. This is proved by the fact that on the basis of this theatrical genre a popular expression has gone into the people.
