They are few who can be called maestro, called innovators, leaders in a field dominated and judged for outwardly beauty. But pure talent is reserved to the few and it’s champion is Marlon Brando. A legend and a 1st league performer. Critics and actors alike are in admiration of Brando’s expertise as an actor. Method acting, a term introduced by Russian actor and director Konstantin Stanislavski, was made common ground by Brando. His stand out performance in Julius Caesar among a bevy of seasoned Shakespearean actors is testament to his avante- gardist approach. In Julius Caesar, while his colleagues performed admirably in expected Shakespearean style, Brando engaged his character, Mark Antony, in a more realistic and edgy manner setting him apart from the past and embracing a future that other notable actors would follow. It would be sinful not to mention a performance that has stood out through out the ages, a performance so ground breaking it is used in acting academies. We refer to Brando’s performance as Stanley Kowalski, from the hard drinking author Tennessee Williams’ play, A Street Car Named Desire. A performance layered in complexities that ranged from a tolerable brute to an almost virulent evil being, Brando cemented his name to the history books for his delivery.
Marlon Brando has passed away, but his works and innovations have made him a legend and a 1st league actor.
Teacher: Stella Adler
Some Notable Performances:
