Renaissance comedy [electronic resource] : the Italian masters. Volume 1 / edited with introductions by Donald Beecher.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Beecher, Don, author.

Contributor:

Beecher, Donald.

Series:

Lorenzo da Ponte Italian library.

The da Ponte library series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Italian drama (Comedy)--Translations into English.

Italian drama (Comedy).

Italian drama--To 1700--Translations into English.

Italian drama.

Italian drama (Comedy)--History and criticism.

Italian drama--To 1700--History and criticism.

Theater--Italy--History.

Theater.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (467 p.)

Place of Publication:

Toronto : University of Toronto Press, c2008.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

A rich and multi-faceted aspect of the Italian Renaissance, the comedy has been largely overlooked as a cultural force during the period. In Renaissance Comedy, editor Donald Beecher corrects this oversight with a collection of eleven comedies representative of the principal styles of writing that define the genre. Proceeding from early, ?erudite? imitations of Plautus and Terence to satires, sentimental plays of the middle years, and later, more experimental works, the development of Italian Renaissance comedy is here dissected in a fascinating and vivid light.This first of two volumes boasts five of the best-known plays of the period, each with its own historical and critical introduction. Also included is a general introduction by the editor, which discusses the features of Italian Renaissance comedy, as well as examines the stage histories of the plays and what little is known, in many cases, of the circumstances surrounding their original performances. The introduction raises questions concerning the nature of audiences, the festival occasions during which the plays were performed, and the academies which sponsored many of their creations.As a much-needed reappraisal of these comedic plays, Renaissance Comedy is an invaluable look at the performance history of the Renaissance and Italian culture in general.

Contents:

v. 1. Introduction: 'erudite' comedy in Renaissance Italy / Donald Beecher ; The pretenders = I suppositi / Ludovico Ariosto ; Cortigiana = La cortigiana / Pietro Aretino ; The ragged brothers = Gli straccioni / Annibal Caro ; Alessandro = L'alessandro / Alessandro Piccolimini ; The sister = La sorella / Giambattista Della Porta.

v. 2 Introduction: from Italy to England: the sources, conventions, and influence of 'Erudite' comedy / Donald Beecher ; The Calandria = La calandria / Bernardo Dovizi da Bibbiena ; The Mandragola = La moscheta / Angelo Beolco (Ruzante) ; The horned owl = L'Assiuolo / Giovan Maria Cecchi ; Frate Alberigo = Il frate / Anton Francesco Grazzini ; The candlebearer = Il candelaio / Giordano Bruno.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 08. Jul 2019)

ISBN:

1-4426-9174-3

1-4426-8898-X

OCLC:

1013963448