Perhaps all we can say of great acting is that it involves assimilation rather than accumulation, that the performer isn't so much a surrogate as a vessel.
( Perhaps ( ( all ( we ( can ( say ( of ( great acting ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ( is ( that ( it ( ( ( involves ( ( assimilation ( rather than ) ) accumulation ) ) , ) ( that ( ( the performer ) ( ( ( is n't ) ( so much ) ) ( ( a surrogate ) ( as ( a vessel ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) ) )
(ROOT (S (ADVP (RB Perhaps)) (NP (NP (DT all)) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP we)) (VP (MD can) (VP (VB say) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ great) (NN acting)))))))) (VP (VBZ is) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VBZ involves) (NP (NP (NN assimilation)) (CONJP (RB rather) (IN than)) (NP (NN accumulation))) (, ,) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (DT the) (NN performer)) (VP (VBZ is) (RB n't) (ADVP (RB so) (RB much)) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN surrogate)) (PP (IN as) (NP (DT a) (NN vessel))))))))))) (. .)))
Great actors can assimilate themselves into their roles.
( ( Great actors ) ( ( can ( ( assimilate themselves ) ( into ( their roles ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (JJ Great) (NNS actors)) (VP (MD can) (VP (VB assimilate) (NP (PRP themselves)) (PP (IN into) (NP (PRP$ their) (NNS roles))))) (. .)))