The Stagecraft and Performance of Roman Comedy
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. Marsh
Criticism, interpretation, etc
1 online resource (336 pages)
9780511348655, 0511348657
935926161
Cover; Half-title; Title; Copyright; Dedication; Contents; Figures; Preface; Introduction; Chapter 1 The Experience of Roman Comedy; Opportunities for Performance; The Business of Comedy; Performance Spaces; Set; Costume; Stage Properties; Audience; Chapter 2 Actors and Roles; The Grex Economy; Doubling and the Size of Plautus' Troupe; Star Parts; Terence; Chapter 3 Masks; Greek Masks and the Roman Stage; The Problem of Plautus' Pimps; Individualised Comic Masks; Chapter 4 Stage Action; Focus; Pace; Tone; Routines; Chapter 5 Music and Metre; Musical structure in Plautus. Stichic metre and songThe tibicen and comic delivery; Chapter 6 Improvisation; Degrees of Scriptedness; Text and script; Improvisation in Plautus; Appendix: Conspectus Metrorum Plautinorum; References; Index Locorum; General Index