Stanislavski Acting and A Doll’s House Vocabulary

Front

Objective

Back

What a character wants most in a scene; their goal or desire.

Front

Obstacle

Back

What stands in the way of the character’s objective — internal or external.

Front

Tactic

Back

The method or action a character uses to overcome the obstacle and reach their objective.

Front

Beat

Back

A shift or change in emotion, thought, or action within a scene; marks a new unit of meaning.

Front

Given Circumstances

Back

The background details of the scene: who, where, when, and what has happened before.

Front

Emotion Recall (Affective Memory)

Back

Using personal memories to bring truthful emotion into performance.

Front

The Magic If

Back

Asking, 'What would I do if I were this character in these circumstances?' to create realism and empathy.

Front

Prodigal

Back

Spending money recklessly; Torvald teases Nora with this word.

Front

Spendthrift

Back

Someone who wastes money; Torvald’s controlling nickname for Nora.

Front

Subordinate

Back

Lower in rank or position; reflects Nora’s marital status.