The Stanislavski COMBINATION EXERCISE

Method
Name: ________________________________

Date: ____________________ Period: ______

Objective
• Assess your progress with your relaxation efforts
• Assess your progress with your ability to concentrate
• Recreate two sensory experiences simultaneously by combining two previous exercises.

Preparation
In the context of a performance, an actor can expect to recreate a multitude of sensory experience, often
simultaneously. For this exercise, select two of the previous sense memory exercises to perform
simultaneously. You are free to make alterations to your previous performance (for example, select a
different breakfast drink to re-experience).

Check which two exercises you will be combining:

☐ Breakfast Drink ☐ Sharp Pain

☐ Mirror ☐ Taste and Smell
☐ Getting Dressed ☐ Overall Sensations
☐ Three Pieces of Material ☐ Personal Object
☐ Sunshine

Observation Record
Your responses to the prompts below MUST be almost ridiculously specific. Use metaphors and similes to
accurately conjure up the sensation. Be specific about how the sensation physically affects you.

1) Describe all of your sensory perceptions for your first choice (i.e., see, hear, smell touch, taste,
motion, temperature, etc.):

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________
 ______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

2) Describe all of your sensory perceptions for your second choice (i.e., see, hear, smell touch, taste,
motion, temperature, etc.):

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

The Exercise
Now, set any real objects aside. Change your environment. Spend at least 10 minutes relaxing in a chair—as
you have been taught. Repeat the process above without the objects or locations. You are not doing this
exercise in order to learn to pantomime. Work on reliving each of the specific sensations you recorded
above. Do not move on to the next step until you fully recreate each sensation fully and vividly and
specifically.

Work on this several times for roughly ten-minute intervals.

You will be completing this exercise in class, and will be expected to have worked on this significantly at
home. You will be guided through each step, and you will be asked to recreate and describe each sensation.

Due Date: ________________________________

Reflection [To Be Completed After Your In-Class Performance]
Respond to the following prompts sincerely and with specific detail. Keep in mind that sense memory work
is intended to be a continual process. You are not learning your times tables; these are exercises not unlike
sit-ups or yoga. You continue to develop your ability with no end zone in sight. To achieve any kind of
success you must commit yourself to continually working on it.

1) How did you feel working on this exercise?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

2) Which specific sensations gave you the most trouble?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

3) What specific goals do you have for yourself as you continue to work?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________
 ______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Assessment [for teacher use only]

PREPARATION 5 4 3 2 1
RELAXATION 5 4 3 2 1
CONCENTRATION 5 4 3 2 1
DETAIL OF WORK 5 4 3 2 1
ABILITY TO SUSTAIN 5 4 3 2 1
SELF-EVALUATION 5 4 3 2 1

Total ________ out of 30