Commedia Dell'arte

<p>What were the origins of commedia dell'arte and how did it evolve as a dramatic form over time and as it spread from Italy? How did its relationship to the ruling ideology of the day change during the Enlightenment? What is its legacy today? <p/> These are just some of the questions addressed in this authoritative overview of the dramatic ideological and aesthetic form of commedia dell'arte. The book's 3 sections examine the changing role of performers and playwrights improvisatory scenarios and scripted performance and its function as a vehicle for social criticism to offer readers a clear understanding of commedia dell'arte's evolution in Renaissance Italy and beyond. This study throws new light on the role of women performers; on the changing ideological discourse of commedia dell'arte which included social reform and later conservatism as well as the alienation of ethnic minorities in complicity with its audience; and on its later adaptation into hybrid forms including grotesque dance and the <i>giullarata</i> typified by the work of Dario Fo.</p>