Just Say the Lines and Don't Trip Over the Furniture! the Acting Theories of Noel Coward.

Abstract

This descriptive study synthesizes Noel Coward's countless statements on acting into one comprehensive, organized account of his performance philosophy. Prior to this dissertation, the acting theories of this international, theatrical phenomenon who excelled for more than fifty years as actor, playwright, director, composer, lyricist and producer laid buried throughout numerous, diverse sources. Despite Coward's reluctance to admit any adherence to a conscious acting ideology, the extensive volume of scattered opinions and thoughts about acting that the Master voiced throughout innumerable interviews, articles, diaries, autobiographies, biographies and his own fictional writings reveals that Coward did indeed possess a very definite, individual acting philosophy. After assembling all the bits and pieces sprinkled throughout such sources and weaving together similar threads, Coward's dispersed thoughts on acting emerge as a very practical, yet insightful, performance doctrine. A descriptive compilation of Coward's acting philosophy evolves which sheds light on such topics as the definition of acting, the inherent ingredients necessary for becoming an actor, the proper training that an actor should seek, the steps that an actor should follow in rehearsal while creating a role, the responsibilities of an actor in performance and the guidelines that an actor should consider in order to maintain success over a long, productive career.