The actors of the commedia dell'arte (the sixteenth-century Italian professional theater) usually did not perform from scripted drama. They improvised their performances from a shared plot and thorough knowledge of individual character roles. Robert Henke analyzes commedia dell'arte texts to demonstrate how the spoken word and written literature were combined in performance. Henke examines primary sources including performance accounts, actors' contracts, letters and other documents.
The actors of the commedia dell'arte (the sixteenth-century Italian professional theater) usually did not perform from scripted drama. They improvised...
Whereas previous studies of poverty and early modern theatre have concentrated on England and the criminal rogue, "Poverty and Charity in Early Modern Theatre and Performance "takes a transnational approach, which reveals a greater range of attitudes and charitable practices regarding the poor than state poor laws and rogue books suggest. Close study of German and Latin beggar catalogues, popular songs performed in Italian piazzas, the Paduan actor-playwright Ruzante, the commedia dell arte in both Italy and France, and Shakespeare demonstrate how early modern theatre and performance could...
Whereas previous studies of poverty and early modern theatre have concentrated on England and the criminal rogue, "Poverty and Charity in Early Modern...