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December 2009
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The respected scholarly publication The New England Theatre Journal published a wonderful review of A BALANCING ACT.
Here are excerpts:
" Chaulet readily concedes that she has picked up the trail where others ceased blazing, but she is deft in weaving the ideas together into a relevant system" ...
"after participating in an ENERGIZE workshop, the undergraduates and pre-professional students were demonstrably more focused and self-aware; the clamor to buy copies of A BALANCING ACT confirmed Chaulet's theory that there is a collective thirst for solutions to this frequent dilemma"
" Plainly, Chaulet makes her case. The craft of acting has had an unspoken need for a system that dedicates itself solely to balancing who we are with who we are required to become.The structure of Energize! is accessible because it provides an overview of various holistic centering techniques, and successful because it serves as a solid launching platform for those who want to develop their own pre- and post-performance rituals with further research."
By J.J. Cobb, Eastern Connecticut State University
For the whole review please go to :NEW ENGLAND THEATRE CONFERENCE website and order the December 2009 copy.
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Testimonials
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“Truly some of the freshest and most innovative 21st century contributions to the art of acting."
- Mel Shrawder NYC AEA/SAG actor,
Former Head of Performance, University of Miami
and Faculty at Michael Chekhov Acting Studio New York
“It is rare to find a subject that urgently needs to be discussed
and about which too little is written. The need to train the entire
being of the performing artist is just such a subject.
Emmanuelle
Chaulet’s A Balancing Act is a godsend to performing artists of any
sort. Knowing how to Energize allows us to endure and even thrive
during the rise and fall, the constant state of transformation, the
juggling of feelings, styles, jobs, and colleagues while maintaining an
even keel.”
- Lisa Dalton, Co-founder, International Michael Chekhov Association,
award-winning Actor/Producer/Director
and Co-founder and Certifying Board,
National Michael Chekhov Association
"Chaulet's explanations of the chakras and energy systems are tangible and never come off as ephemeral or wishy-washy. I found her take on some Strasberg and Chekhov exercises fresh and exciting, and some of her original exercises strike me as very useful. She seems to have found healthy and innovative ways of approaching a technique that can be emotionally draining and sometimes harmful. And although some background in energy and visualization work would help to understand some of the theories she explores, she writes simply and elegantly, and any actor with an interest in polarity therapy and the energetic system would find this book very interesting and useful. "
- NYC Drama Book Shop Inc. staff review
"In fifteen chapters and six appendices, Chaulet’s carefully crafted method takes the actor on a journey from a personal awareness of his/her energy system, to an application of that knowledge in the creation of a character. Chaulet acknowledges acting theorists, from Stanislavski to Lee Strasberg, noted for their promotion of realistic acting styles. This acknowledgment is integrated in the first four chapters, which offer a very personal reflection on her study of acting and the evolution of her “energetic approach” that is the result of the discovery of various Asian associated approaches to the body such as polarity, yoga, and so on. The weaving into the text of prior realistic acting methodologies provides a strong basis for her approach, which she begins to describe in chapter 5, “Anatomy of the Energetic System.” It is here that she articulates an approach that unites realism as an aesthetic ideal with the energy of the body based on the Hindu chakra system."
- Barbara Sellers-Young
York University
for Theatre Topics, September 2009 issue
"A groundbreaking book written by a groundbreaking artist. Ms.
Chaulet uses her vast experience as an actor and director to offer both
a brilliant book on the craft of acting, and a comprehensive guide to
the very difficult act of rebalancing the artist's energies once the
performance is over. A MUST for any serious, contemporary performer."
- Sean O'Connor, NY actor,
award-winning playwright (Circle Rep, La Mama)
and winner of Hollywood’s prestigious American Accolades Award
"While reading F. Emmanuelle Chaulet's book, I completed a very enjoyable run as Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. On closing night, after walking offstage from the wrenching wedding scene, I burst into tears. In the dressing room, I mentioned it to the actor playing Hero, who admitted she had experienced the same thing. I couldn't shake those feelings for the rest of the evening. Such an experience is precisely what Chaulet's method grapples with: How can actors who convincingly pretend they're having heart-rending, tumultuous experiences let those experiences go at the end of a scene? How can actors fully and believably take on other people's lives without damaging their own?
- Jackie Apodaca
Backstage.com October 2008
"Emmanuelle Chaulet's work was a revelation to me. I found that her work with the 'Disowned Self' was a relevant to my work as a playwright as it was to my work as a performer.
A Balancing Act is long overdue!"
- Carolyn Gage, award-winning lesbian-feminist playwright,
performer, director, and activist
"A Must-Read For All Artistic Minds!,
Chaulet guides the reader through a thorough and detailed explanation of the energetic system and its tremendous role as the powerhouse of the actor. In addition to this complete guide to the energetic system are wonderful stories of her own experiences as a working stage and film actress."
- Katherine G. Matzell, actress (Portland, ME)
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