Commedia Dell'Arte: An Actor's Handbook

There has been an enormous revival of interest in Commedia dell'arte. And it remians a central part of many drama school courses. In Commedia dell'arte in the Twentieth Century John Rublin first examines the orgins of this vital theatrical form and charts its recent revival through the work of companies like Tag, Theatre de Complicite and the influential methods of Jacques Lecoq. The second part of the book provides a unique practical guide for would-be practitioners: demonstrating how to approach the roles of Zanni, Arlecchion, Brighella, Pantalone, Dottore, and the Lovers in terms of movement, mask-work and voice. As well as offering a range of lazzi or comic business, improvisation exercises, sample monologues,and dialogues. No other book so clearly outlines the specific culture of Commedia or provides such a practical guide to its techniques. This immensely timely and useful handbook will be an essential purchase for all actors, students, and teachers.

Illustrations, Introduction, Part I: The commedia dell'arte: Origins, The mask; Playing Commedia, Part II: The stock characters: The Zanni, The old men, The Lovers, Il Capitano, Colombina, Other Masks: Pedrolino, Pulcinella, Scapino, ScaramucciN, Tartaglia, Minor Masks; Part III: The twentieth century: Craig at the Arena Goldoni; Meyerhold Dappertutto; Copeau's new improvised comedy; Charles Dullin: letters from the front; The Servant of Two Masters; The Lecoq school; Le Theatre du Soleil; The San Francisco Mime Troupe, TNT (The New Theatre); Dario Fo, Carlo Boso and Antonio Fava; Restoration or renovation?; Appendix: Making a leather mask, Notes, A selection of works on commedia dell'arte in English, Index.