Shchepkin, Mikhail Semenovich, 1788-1863

Mikhail Semyonovich Shchepkin (Russian: Михаи́л Семёнович Ще́пкин; 17 November [O.S. 6 November] 1788 — 11 August [O.S. 23 August] 1863) was the most famous Russian actor of the 19th century. He is considered the "father" of realist acting in Russia and, via the influence of his student, Glikeriya Fedotova, a major influence on the development of the 'system' of Konstantin Stanislavski (who was born in the year in which Shchepkin died). Shchepkin's significance to the Theatre of Russia is comparable to that of David Garrick to the English theatre. He distinguished between two kinds of actors, both of whom are dedicated to the art of acting: (1) those who have developed the art of pretense based on intelligence and reason; (2) those who express feelings experienced by the actor in performance and work based on "a flaming-soul, heavenly spark." Shchepkin considered the effect of the latter approach superior to that of the former. He was opposed to the principles advanced by the French playwright and philosopher Denis Diderot in his Paradox of the Actor (published posthumously in 1830), which inverted Shchepkin's evaluation.