The Stagecraft and Performance of Roman ComedyCambridge University Press, 2006 M11 2 A comprehensive survey of Roman theatrical production, this book examines all aspects of Roman performance practice, and provides fresh insights on the comedies of Plautus and Terence. Following an introductory chapter on the experience of Roman comedy from the perspective of Roman actors and the Roman audience, addressing among other things the economic concerns of putting on a play in the Roman republic, subsequent chapters provide detailed studies of troupe size and the implications for role assignment, masks, stage action, music, and improvisation in the plays of Plautus and Terence. Marshall argues that Roman comedy was raw comedy, much more rough-and-ready than its Hellenistic precursors, but still fully conscious of its literary past. The consequences of this lead to fresh conclusions concerning the dramatic structure of Roman comedy, and a clearer understanding of the relationship between the plays-as-text and the role of improvisation during performance. |
Contents
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0521861616c01_p1682 | 16 |
0521861616c02_p83125 | 83 |
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0521861616c06_p245279 | 245 |
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Common terms and phrases
actor Adelphoe aediles Amphitruo anapaests appear Asinaria Atellanae audience audience’s Aulularia Bacchides backstage Ballio Barsby benefits Calidorus cantica canticum Captivi Casina characterisation choragus Cicero comic Comitium context costume create Curculio defined Dordalus dramatic Duckworth 1952 effect empty stage Epidicus Eunuchus example exist exit festival figure final first five fixed focus gesture Gilula Gratwick Greek New Comedy Hecyra iambic identified improvisation joke Labrax Lefevre lines Livy ludi Apollinares ludi Romani mask means Menaechmi Menander Menander’s metatheatrical metre metrical Miles Gloriosus mime Moore Mostellaria narrative onstage palliatae parasite passage performance space perhaps Persa Phormio pimp Plautine Plautus play play’s playwright Poenulus Pollux possible present prologue provides Pseudolus Quintilian reflect rehearsal represent role Roman comedy Rome routine Rudens Sagaristio Saturio’s scene scripted significant slave speaking specific spectators speech stage action Stichus stock character suggests Terence Terence’s theatre theatrical tihicen Toxilus tradition troupe Truculentus unscripted venue verse
Popular passages
Page 4 - Epidamnum veniet cum servo suo 70 hunc quaeritatum geminum germanum suom. haec urbs Epidamnus est, dum haec agitur fabula ; quando alia agetur, aliud fiet oppidum.
Page xiv - Populus convolat : Tumultuantur , clamant, pugnant de loco : Ego interea meum non potui tutari locum.
Page 287 - Postquam est mortem aptus Plautus. Comoedia luget, Scaena est deserta, dein Risus, Ludus locusque Et Numeri innumeri simul omnes conlacrimarunt.