The Persuasive Actor: Rhetorical Power on the Contemporary Stage

‘A
must-have for all actors who encounter speeches that are longer than three
sentences. On the surface, that would be classic works from Sophocles through
Shakespeare - with the 17th and 18th centuries thrown in. Dig deeper and the
book’s value to actors of modern and contemporary drama is inescapable.
Ibsen, Shaw, Williams, Miller, Shepard, Wilson, Kushner, and Suzan-Lori Parks
all wrote plays that are filled with powerful rhetorical devices that demand
lively, thorough, and specific consideration. This book is a guide that
unfolds the mysteries of classical rhetoric in a clear, concise, and
effective manner, a book for speakers who want to move their audiences. It is
aimed at actors, but also belongs on the shelf of lawyers, advertising
copywriters, and, of course, public officials. I will use it in my classes
and workshops and enthusiastically recommended it to all actors and actor
trainers.’ - Leslie Reidel, Department of Theatre, University of Delaware