Commedia Dell'Arte: An Actor's Handbook

by John Rudlin

Book Overview

There has been an enormous revival of interest in Commedia dell'arte. And it remians a central part of many drama school courses. In Commedia dell'arte in the Twentieth Century John Rublin first examines the orgins of this vital theatrical form and charts its recent revival through the work of companies like Tag, Theatre de Complicite and the influential methods of Jacques Lecoq. The second part of the book provides a unique practical guide for would-be...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0415047706
• ISBN13: 9780415047708
• Release Date: February 1994
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 296 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A Must-Read for Present-Day Commedia Lovers

Rudlin compacts a ton of useful information, in history of the art, Mask/character analyzation, and current day Commedia practitioners. I've found it a very reliable source for the subject and reccommend it to anyone interested in Commedia dell'Arte, either practically or academically.

the best place to start.....

Obviously commedia dell'arte is a live theatre form, and obviously you know a bit about commedia otherwise you wouldn't be reading this review. As far as any book can help anyone do live theatre, especially a form so comic and forceful, then ths book can. Nowhere it loses sight of the fact that its job is to encourage people to action and performance and then begin to discover for themselves.It is not an esoteric bible of secret facts which will allow anyone to become a commedia performer.It is an actor's manual and, if you cannot find adequate live teaching of the form, it is one of the best books you can find to start with.

Wonderful coverage for being so short.

If you're at all interested in Commedia and have not yet read this book, I highly recommend it. It would be beneficial for anyone at any level. Every section is just wonderful and gives out so much "secret" information. There's even an appendix on how to make leather masks in the traditional method. I have searched and not been able to find many other books that touch on that subject. It's an interesting read the whole way through and handy as a reference forever after.

The best how-to book of comedy!

Rudlin explains in the world's most comprehensive guide to the performance of commedia dell'arte, the stock characters, masks, improvisational style, and influence of this incredible art form. The book greatly aided my study of commedia, and continues to guide me now as I am a teach it. Without Rudlin's great teaching, I could not be the teacher that I am now. A must-own for any aspiring actor or comedian, or fan of comedy.

John Rudlin is the modern day master of commedia.

John Rudlin describes in great detail every aspect of commedia dell'arte. Having personally studied with John Rudlin, he is today's master of the masked world. Indepth character analysis, sample plots, illustrations, pictures of masks, detailed background information, and an overall 'everything you need to know' by the man who knows better than anyone.