BOOK REVIEW: VOICE AND THE ACTOR by Cicely Berry
Like every week we post a book review on a subject related to acting, health, personal growth or anything related to the showbiz industry. This time it’s the vocal lesson book “Voice and the Actor” by Cicely Berry.
The author lets us know she bases her work on “the conviction that while all is present in nature, our natural instincts have been crippled from birth by the conditioning of our society”. And that’s fine, but the premise doesn’t really tell us exactly what our society has ruined and what raw talent we wont be able to perfect.
She tells us an actor needs precise exercise and clear understanding to liberate all his true possibilities. Berry also claims that past techniques are a myth and covers both exercises on pronounciation with subjects such as: relaxation and breathing, muscularity of the toungue and mouth, singing…
So, Is it worth reading? NO. The author gives us rules to perform exercises but no explanation of what the exercises are aimed at perfecting. Exactly how do I use these things later? I say there are plenty of books that can aid me in perfecting my voice better than this one.
Posted on November 11th, 2008 under Book Reviews • Tags: ACTING, BOOK REVIEW, RESOURCES, VOICE. • 
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