Playing Shakespeare: An Actor's Guide

With the help of Judi Dench, Ben Kingsley, Ian McKellen and other actors, associate director of London's Royal Shakespeare Company John Barton presents Playing Shakespeare: An Actor's Guide. With over 50 of the Bard's plays and numerous U.K. and U.S. theater workshops under his directorial belt, the eminently qualified Barton provides a record of nine Royal Shakespeare Company workshops conducted on television in 1984 with the actors listed above. ""Acting is built upon specifics,"" he writes, and proceeds to give specific advice to modern actors on performing these old but not antiquated texts. This thoughtful guide will be embraced by actors and directors alike. ( Aug. 28)