• Mastering the Author's Style: Working with the Text of F.M. Dostoevsky's Novel The Adolescent in a Reading Performance

УДК: 821.161.1:792.09

DOI: 10.35852/2588-0144-2025-1-197-215

EDN: YFQSGU

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Vera P. Kamyshnikova

Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS)
Moscow, Russia

Mastering the Author's Style: Working with the Text of F.M. Dostoevsky's Novel The Adolescent in a Reading Performance

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problem of mastering the author’s style while working with the classic prosaic texts on stage. Using the example of working on the text of F. M.Dostoevsky’s novel The Adolescent, the techniques of immersion in the author’s nature of the text, as well as the process of searching for stage language, are explored. There is also considered the interrelation of the author’s style and vocal expressiveness in the sounding speech of acting students. The article presents material about the work with Dostoevsky’s texts of the theatre director P.N. Fomenko. Analyzing his work with the text helps to understand the speech techniques that the director used when working with the actors. The article also analyzes the practical mastering of the author’s style of The Adolescent by working with “themes” rather than with the plot. It includes the study of the genre and lexical features of the text, an understanding of the epoch in which the author lived, as well as the set of problems that worried the author. This approach opens up opportunities for future actors and directors to understand and convey the philosophical, semantic, and emotional content of literary works through theatre means. In addition, modern students’ consciousness is shaped by the “clipped”, instantaneous presentation of information. Working on “themes” also helps to overcome this problem by combating speed reading and, as a result, superficial perception of the plot. By analyzing “themes”, students gradually immerse themselves in the text, seeking meaning, considering what lies “behind the words”, thus avoiding simply illustrating the text.

Keywords

F.M.Dostoevsky, The Adolescent, author’s style, speech expressiveness, stage speech.

For citation

Kamyshnikova V. P. Mastering the Author’s Style: Working with the Text of F. M. Dostoevsky’s Novel The Adolescent in a Reading Performance. Theatre. Fine Arts. Cinema. Music. 2025, no. 1, pp. 197–215.

DOI: 10.35852/2588-0144-2025-1-197-215

EDN YFQSGU

References

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Received: 25.12.2024

Revised: 07.02.2025

Accepted: 11.02.2025