Product Description

An entertaining and highly illuminating account of Commedia's origins as a popular theatrical form, plus a practical and timely step-by-step guide to using commedia techniques in performance.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #98034 in Books
• Published on: 1994-02-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 296 pages

From the Back Cover
An entertaining and highly illuminating account of Commedia's origins as a popular theatrical form, plus a practical and timely step-by-step guide to using commedia techniques in performance today. John Rudlin explains the basis for improvising each stock character through working notes which cover: name status origin costume mask props stance walks movements gestures speech characteristics relationships plot functions improvisations Also provided are useful translations of typical dialogues and monologues. Rudlin also charts the experiments of twentieth-century directors and artistes in `reconstructing and revitalising a form which dominated European popular culture for three centuries.' Commedia dell'Arte is an unusually lively and absorbing book which makes a vital contribution both to theatre history and theatre making.

Customer Reviews

Clear and practical guide for anyone interested
A very clear and concise guide to all things Commedia, with easy to read chapters and reference sections. Well balanced information with little left out. Very modern; it brings Commedia into the twenty-first century. The non-technical language and explanation mean that anyone could use this book.

An Excellent book for all interested in this art.
I have had this book for years and bought it to find out about this form of entertainment and to get info into the characters. Although it is meant for actors (as is the second book Commedia Dell Arte-a handbook for troupes) it is very informative for a historical point of view as well.
After the introduction, you go into part 1 which goes into the origins, the masks and playing Commedia which includes making a leather mask, acting in a mask, staging etc.
It goes into part 2 which goes through the stock characters (this is very helpful and useful to find out about how the characters react it includes the name (with it's meaning), costume, stance (servant, zanni, employer etc), gestures, relationships, status, mask, walks (long strides, with limp etc), speech, plot functions, origins (from France, Neapolitan etc) , props (a cudgel), movements, characteristics and improvisations.
It has brilliant engravings and drawings showing the plays and crowds and scenes to get into the mood and includes scenario's, Acts and non-improvised elements to get the person immersed into the theatre.
Part 3 are essays about those reconstructing 20th Century shows with some photos and the appendix is how to make masks, which includes plaster of paris, wood, leather etc.

All in all a very good book to read, even if just interested in the show, the history or the characters, you will find this very informative. You may even want to do the play yourself.