{"product_id":"the-italian-comedy","title":"The Italian Comedy","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe roots of the Italian commedia dellarte stretch back to the Atellanae Fabulae  popular farces of ancient Rome. Modern descendants can be found in the antics of a comic like Charles Chaplin. But as an institution it was unique  a perfected theater of improvisation where gifted actors created some of the most memorable characters the theatre has ever seen. It was from this enchanting world that Harlequin and Punch  the Doctor and the Captain  Pantaloon and Brighella emerged to reign over Europe for three centuries. Writers  composers  and painters have drawn inspiration from the commedia; its influence is obvious in the work of Lope de Vega  the English Elizabethan dramatists  Molire  Callot  Watteau  Czanne  and Picasso. One of the most important books written on this aspect of theatrical history is this famous study. Tracing the beginnings  growth  and influence of the commedia dellarte  Duchartre describes the improvisations  staging  masks  scenarios  acting troupes  and characters that made up this special form of theater. Unfortunately  the English translation that appeared in 1929 has been out of print for decades  leaving scholars and theater lovers without a valuable source. This republication brings Duchartres account back into print  illustrated with the more than 200 drawings and photographs it originally contained  plus a new pictorial supplement containing 35 plates from the Recueil Fossard  a rare collection of sixteenth-century engravings  and eight plates from Compositions de rhtorique de M. don Arlequin  which gives a view of Harlequin during the Renaissance. Here are some of the reviews this book originally received: A scrupulously studious work  and a sympathetic one  valuable sourcebook.  Bookmarks. Exhaustive and scholarly but hilariously entertaining treatment.  Christian Century. The author has gleaned from every source well-ordered information which makes this volume a complete seismographic record of one of the greatest eruptions of the comic spirit in all times.  Saturday Review of Literature. This republication is sure to be no less well received. It has already merited an enthusiastic response from Eric Bentley: A very important standard work. Its unavailability of recent years  of recent decades  has been a calamity for all who work in the field. Its reappearance will make a big difference. Dover has earned the gratitude of a whole profession.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44960124305461,"sku":"ByrdShop_0486216799","price":60.04,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780486216799.jpg?v=1770391505","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-italian-comedy","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}