Description
Book SynopsisThis 2002 book explores the commedia dell'arte: the Italian professional theatre in Shakespeare's time. Henke closely analyzes commedia dell'arte texts in order to demonstrate how the spoken word and written literature were fruitfully combined in performance.
Trade ReviewReview of the hardback: '… teacher friendly … inspired insights … this engaging and worthwhile perspective on the commedia dell'arte offers plenty of food for thought.' Journal of Theatre Research International
Table of ContentsList of figures; Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction; 2. Improvisation and characters; 3. Residual orality in early modern Italy and the commedia dell'arte; 4. Venetian buffoni; 5. Early male actors; 6. Early actresses; 7. Zanni texts, 1576–88; 8. Conclusions and caprices: early texts of the Dottore and Pantalone; 9. Tristano Martinelli: a company buffone; 10. Theatrical and literary 'composition' in Francesco Andreini and Flaminio Scala; 11. The generation of Cecchini: technical, moral and dramaturgical publications; Notes; Bibliography.
