One hundred plus people packed into the Barnes and Noble event space at Lincoln Triangle Thursday night to see renowned actress Zoe Caldwell and Mary Z. Maher, author of Actors Talk About Shakespeare (published by Limelight Editions).
Maher's book is a collection of personal interviews with Shakespearean actors from the stage and screen, including Kenneth Branagh, Kevin Kline, Derek Jacobi, Stacy Keach, Zoe Caldwell, and others. Each chapter profiles a career in context, resulting in a treasury of talents, tactics, and tales from veteran performers who return often to Shakespeare. This book is accessible to drama educators, aspiring actors, and professionals alike.
Ms. Caldwell's chapter discusses the importance of the playwright, overcoming physical challenges, and her personal experience discovering and embracing the Theatre World. On Thursday, Zoe Caldwell answered questions from the audience ranging from "Do you read your own reviews?" (No!) to "What are some techniques you use to get into character?" (Stripping down in the dressing room and eating foods that fit the character). Her biggest piece of advice for novices is to watch good actors closely and don't use any "bling" (that is, decoration) in speaking-just use the punctuation.
