Small Actors

“There are no small parts, only small actors” is a very famous quote said by Constantin Stanislavski. That quote is said, sometimes, to make people feel better if, say, they got a

“small part.” By that I mean a part that isn’t a lead, maybe someone who doesn’t have a speaking role at all, or even someone didn’t get the solo they desperately wanted. Basically everything that isn’t the super star of a play because that is generally what people aim to get.

            My opinion about this quote is that it’s so untrue! Speaking as someone who has had one minor lead role in middle school, but has tried out for every musical/ play that she could, I think that it is just a false quote. There are too small parts, Constaintin! If someone doesn’t have a direct effect on the plot, I would call that a small part.  Trust me; I’ve had many of them. Including but not limited to; chorus, chorus, and towns people.

            Actually I think the exact opposite! There are small parts, but no small actors. I think that if you gather maybe 15 plays, with 10 characters each, that is 150 parts to cast.  If there were really actors specifically meant to have small parts, then a director wouldn’t be able to picture them in any one of those 30 or 40 lead roles. Now if you look at it the other way, there are 120 small roles. I mean, yes some people might not want a big role but that’s not saying they couldn’t do it if they were cast as one. What I am saying, though, is they could also be so much bigger!

            So here is my own quote about acting; “there are small parts, and also versatile actors.” Maybe that s not the best way to word it, maybe I’ll think of a different way soon. What I’m trying to say from that quote is that; there are small parts and lead parts and of course the one that everyone wants is the large one but if you can be a versatile actor or actress you should be able to play both.