Commedia Dell'Arte: A Handbook for Troupes - Hardcover

Crick, Oliver; Rudlin, John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0415204089 ISBN 13: 9780415204088

Publisher: Routledge, 2001

Synopsis

A companion to John Rudlin's best-selling Commedia dell'Arte: A Handbook for Actors, this book covers both the history and professional practice of commedia dell'arte companies from 1568 to the present day. Indispensable for both the beginner and the professional, it contains historical and contemporary company case histories, details on company organisation, and tips on practical stagecraft.
Essential for students and practitioners, this book enables the reader to understand how successful commedia dell'arte companies function, and how we can learn from past and current practice to create a lively and dynamic form of theatre.
Includes tips on:
* writing a scenario
* mask-making
* building a stage
* designing a backdrop
* costume
* music.
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About this title

About the Author:

John Rudlin is a freelance theatre director, playwright and author. Olly Crick is a drama lecturer at Hereford College of Art and Design.

From Library Journal:

This title and its companion, Rudlin's 1994 Commedia dell'Arte: An Actor's Handbook, give the reader a thorough overview of this wonderful theatrical art form. Both Rudlin and Crick have directed and/or performed commedia dell'arte, and they bring historical, theoretical, and practical perspectives to the text. Their research brings together information on the internationally renowned troupes from 1568 to 1622, the so-called golden age of improvisation before the art form became more solidly text-based. As interesting as the historical material is the information on contemporary 20th-century commedia dell'arte troupes who perform in English, including one in this reviewer's own state of Texas. Anyone interested in starting a troupe will learn much from these case studies and histories as the historical material is enriched with practical advice on performance, creating sets and costumes, and forming and training a company. Rudlin and Crick devote an entire chapter to the creation of the ever-important mask, and another extremely helpful chapter teaches the various aspects of script and scene creation. Songs, dances, and costume patterns are also included. Highly recommended for academic and public libraries. Susan L. Peters, Univ. of Texas, Galveston
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0415204089
• ISBN 13: 9780415204088
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272