A History of Italian Theatre

A history of Italian theatre from its origins to the the time of this book's publication in 2006.

Joseph Farrell (Edited by), Paolo Puppa (Edited by)

9780521802659, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 November 2006

434 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.9 cm, 0.8 kg

Review of the hardback: '… this volume is to be welcomed, not just as the first of its kind but also as a scholarly and dynamic account of the value of a theatrical tradition in many ways different from that of other European countries …' Journal of the society for Pirandello Studies

With the aim of providing a comprehensive history of Italian drama from its origins to the time of its publication in 2006, this book treats theatre in its widest sense, discussing the impact of all the elements and figures integral to the collaborative process of theatre-making. The impact of designers, actors, directors and impresarios as well as of playwrights is subjected to critical scrutiny, while individual chapters examine the changes in technology and shifts in the cultural climate which have influenced theatre. No other approach would be acceptable for Italian theatre, where from the days of commedia dell'arte, the central figure has often been the actor rather than the playwright. The important writers, such as Carlo Goldoni and Luigi Pirandello, receive detailed critical treatment, as do the 'great actors' of nineteenth-century theatre or the directors of our own time, but the focus is always on the bigger picture.

1. In search of Italian theatre Joseph Farrell
Part I. Middle Ages: 2. Secular and religious drama in the Middle Ages Nerida Newbigin
Part II. The Renaissance Stage: 3. The Renaissance stage Richard Andrews
4. Comedy: erudite comedy Richard Andrews
5. Ariosto and Ferrara Peter Brand
6. Machiavelli and Florence Peter Brand
7. The Intronati and Sienese comedy Richard Andrews
8. Ruzante and the Veneto Ronnie Ferguson
9. Aretino and later comic playwrights Peter Brand
10. Tragedy Richard Andrews
11. Renaissance bibliography, pastoral drama Lisa Sampson
12. Commedia dell'arte Kenneth and Laura Richards
Part III. Seventeenth Century: 13. The seventeenth-century stage Maurice Slawinski
Part IV. Enlightenment Theatre: 14. Arrivals and departures Joseph Farrell
15. The Venetian stage Guido Nicastro
16. Carlo Goldoni, playwright and reformer Piermario Vescovo
17. Carlo Gozzi Alberto Beniscelli
18. Metastasio and melodramma Costantino Maeder
19. Vittorio Alfieri Gilberto Pizzamiglio
Part V. Risorgimento and United Italy: 20. The Romantic theatre Ferdinando Taviani
21. The theatre of united Italy Paolo Puppa
22. The dialect theatres of Northern Italy Roberto Cuppone
23. Neopolitan theatre Gaetana Marrone
24. Sicilian dialect theatre Antonio Scuderi
Part VI. The Modern Age: 25. Actors, authors and directors Joseph Farrell
26. Innovation and theatre of the grotesque Donatella Fischer
27. Luigi Pirandello Paolo Puppa
28. Italo Svevo, dramatist Paolo Puppa
29. D'Annunzio's theatre John Woodhouse
30. Theatre under fascism Clive Griffiths
31. Pier Paolo Pasolini Robert S. C. Gordon
32. Dario Fo Joseph Farrell
33. Women in theatre Sharon Wood
34. The contemporary scene Paolo Puppa.

Subject Areas: Theatre studies [AN]