Morgan Kelleher

Professor Carl

Acting 1

February 23, 2017

Prompt #1

Although it was hard to pick just one actor or actress that was my absolute favorite, the

performer I eventually decided on was an actress who has explored and has received acclaim for

her performances in television, film as well as theatre. I chose Viola Davis, an actress currently

best known for her role as fierce lawyer/law professor Anneliese Keating on ABCs hit television

series, How to Get Away with Murder, and Rose in both the film and revival stage adaption of

August Wilsons iconic play, Fences. While many people are more familiar with her newer

credits and work, Davis has been on the scene for quite some time in fact, her first Tony

nomination was in 1996 for her work as a supporting actress in Seven Guitars (another piece by

August Wilson). In fact, Viola Davis has approximately 79 awards, and has received over 167

nominations across the spectrum of acting platforms (theatre, television, and movies). Overall,

Viola Davis is and Im quite sure that many would agree with me when I say this truly just

an electric performer. She is able to stretch herself to do so many different types of characters,

making it easy for the audience member to find themselves transfixed with every performance

she gives each and every role she tackles is so distinct, while also being so honest and raw. It

was interesting to go back and watch some of Davis work after being assigned this prompt,

because I soon began referring back to A Practical Handbook for the Actor in addition to An
Actor Prepares to pick out some of the topics we discussed in class and apply it to her acting (or

rather, think of moments that I could notice in her performance where something we learned

about in class was a bit more apparent). An excellent example of I found was in Chapter 2 of An

Actor Prepares where Shchepkin gave the following advice to his student, You may play well

or you may play badly; the important thing is that you should play truly (Stanislavski 15).

Without fail, Ive found that Davis brings a level of specificity and truthfulness to each and every

performance, which is extremely supportive of the ideals that Stanislavski stresses. There were

many examples that Stanislavski cites throughout The Actor Prepares, where his fellow

classmates (and himself) were overdramatic or made the acting about them. It happens quite

often nowadays as well, that actors are focused on themselves, that they forget to be present and

deliberate in their actions/reactions as that specific character. I think that Viola Davis, is

extraordinarily talented at keeping her composure even at the wildest or most tense moment in a

piece without stealing too much focus from the action of the scene or from her partner. One of

my favorite moments that shows this, was when she does Roses famous monologue in Fences

where she finds out her husband cheated on her (Ive been standing in the same spot as you for

18 years!). In the movie adaption, she literally is so engulfed in this moment and focused on

her partner, that even when she quite literally has snot running down her face and is essentially

breaking down, she is still able to maintain concentration on her partner and herself. In addition,

this incredibly raw moment was just that raw. It wasnt put on or overdramtic in anyway,

because she was staying true to the character and was not indulging in taking crazy theatrical

leaps in a scene that is already so powerful. I found it to be pretty intriguing that Davis attended

the Julliard acting program after receiving her honorary doctorate in Fine Arts from Rhode Island
College. Both Julliards undergraduate (B.F.A) and graduate (M.F.A) programs, place a heavy

focus on having their students learn about Alexander technique, which is good, because it seems

as though it can go hand-in-hand with a lot of what Stanislavski taught. The following was said

in Stanislavskis book An Actor Prepares, As long as you have this physical tenseness you

cannot even think about delicate shadings of feeling or the spiritual life of your part.

Consequently, before you attempt to create anything it is necessary for you to get your muscles

in proper condition, so that they do not impede your actions,. Viola Davis training is evident

after reading that, because she brings a different physicality to each character she plays, and

sometimes changes the characters physicality depending on the situation or mental sate theyre

in. How to Get Away With Murder remains one of my favorite shows that Viola Davis has done,

and also just in general. While the plot line is riveting, her performance as the leading actress is

what makes it so addicting. She plays this insanely emotionally complex character that is such

an authority, but then will hit you moments where she is so vulnerable and pathetic. I think

theres such a fine line to make that flip in character, without changing the entire essence of the

character as a whole, and she does that so seamlessly (or so it seems). Then, while looking up

some information of Alexander Technique, the following was stated, Stanislavski understood

that excessive and unnecessary tension interferes with creating the spiritual life of the character

in performance. The Alexander Technique deals with this directly. It is a method that

empowers. Just to add on to how I mentioned she played a figure of authority, the use of this

technique is apparent, and I think very well done she applies tension where needed to give her

character status without completely controlling every aspect of the scene, which is an amazing
skill to have. All in all, I think that Viola Davis is a force to be reckoned with, and someone

whos work is truly to be respected.