Product Description

An entertaining and highly illuminating account of Commedia's origins as a popular theatrical form, plus a practical and timely step-by-step guide to using commedia techniques in performance.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #364905 in Books
• Published on: 1994-04-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 296 pages

Review
`This new book by John Rudlin is much more than a re-examination of a theatrical style long past - in Rudlin's hands, the whole subject becomes not only vital to today's creators of theatre, but to the future as well.' - Theatre Scotland

`This new book by John Rudlin is much more than a re-examination of a theatrical style long past - in Rudlins hands, the whole subject becomes not only vital to todays creators of theatre, but to the future as well. - Theatre Scotland

Customer Reviews

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.

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.

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.