Classical Comedy - Greek and Roman: Six Plays (Applause Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)Robert W. Corrigan has complied a wonderful balance of Greek and Roman comedies.The collection is ideal for anyone interested in an overview of classical comedy or wishing to explore the roots of modern comedy.
Aristophanes' "Lysistrata" and "The Birds," andMenander's "The Grouch" represent the Greek plays."TheMenaechmi" (sometimes called 'The Brother's Menaechmi') and"Mostellaria" (sometimes called 'The Haunted House' or 'TheGhost')" by Plautus and "The Self Tormentor" by Terencerepresent the Roman plays.
The plays themselves are a wonderful study ofcomedy from it's dramatic origins to the Roman's translations of Greek"New Comedy."Students of Shakespeare and renaissance drama willfind this book especially useful as "The Menaechmi" is the sourceof Shakespeare's "Comedy of Errors" and plays like "TheGrouch" and "The Self Tormentor" greatly influenced theFrench comic playwright, Jean-Baptiste Moliere.
The introductions scribedby Corrigan are outstanding.A master of ancient drama, he has a passionthat creeps into all his essays.Unfortunately, the introductions by thetranslators sometimes fail to relate to the boarder subject of comedy andleave a little to be desired.
Regarding the translations themselves, fourdifferent authors have translated the six plays and some are better thanothers.Walter Kerr's translation of "The Birds" is the best ofthe collection.Palmer Bovie's translations of the three Roman plays aresolid and reflect Plautus' word-play well (which also influencedShakespeare).
My only criticism of the book is that some of theintroductions are now dated by references to several Hollywood comedies andBroadway plays that might be obscure unless you have a background in thesesubjects.However, the book is for the plays themselves and the playsthemselves are delightful.Overall, I recommend this collection asintroduction to ancient comedy.

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Product Description:
Rich anthologies of dramatic art and critical insight - varied, stimulating, broad in its view and deep in its perceptions...exciting variety of translations...enlightening essays from some of the most stiumlating minds of the century.- Leonard C. Pronko, author, Theatre East and West, Chair, Dept. of Theatre, Pomona College
Includes: Aristophanes: Lysistrata, translated by Donald Sutherland; The Birds, translated by Walter Kerr; Menander: The Grouch, translated by Sheila DÕAtri; Plautus: The Menaechmi, translated by Palmer Bovie; The Haunted House, translated by Palmer Bovie; Terence: The Self-Tormentor, translated by Palmer Bovie.

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