Playing Commedia: A Training Guide to Commedia Techniques [Paperback]

Barry Grantham (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0325003467 | ISBN-13: 978-0325003467 | Publication Date: February 21, 2001

This book consists of practical games and exercises to introduce actors, directors, and teachers to the skill, characters, and history of Commedia dell' Arte.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Barry Grantham is a performer, director and teacher. He trained as a dancer before working in almost every form of theatre. He has been teaching Commedia for the last fifteen years, chiefly in England, but also in Norway, Sweden, Germany and Italy itself.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann Drama (February 21, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0325003467
• ISBN-13: 978-0325003467
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,055,137 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Playing Commedia for directors and actors, January 5, 2002

By 

Jane Brody (The Theatre School, Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Playing Commedia: A Training Guide to Commedia Techniques (Paperback)

I found this book while searching for a rehearsal method to use in doing physical farce. It proved to be invaluable and inspirational to my cast. We used almost all of the exercises and out of them came some wonderfully clean comic structures and ensemble playing. I have recommended it over and over to friends and students and am now using many of the exercises in my scene study classes in an effort to expand my students physical vocabularies. Buy this book!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for teaching comedy, November 24, 2003

By 

Benjamin Lloyd (Havertown, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Playing Commedia: A Training Guide to Commedia Techniques (Paperback)

This book is wonderfully clear description of the history of commedia dell'arte, as well as the ways it can be adapted by the modern theatre artist. Includes stock character histories, mask exercises and a large assortment of comic and commedia exercises. I teach acting and am using this book in two classes. One quibble: the more precise exercises are hard to follow - but many others are not.

5.0 out of 5 stars Playing Commedia excellent for drama teachers, November 21, 2009

By 

ROBERT STJOHN (Hawaii) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Playing Commedia: A Training Guide to Commedia Techniques (Paperback)

I found this book an excellent resource for teaching high school drama. Commedia is rich in its traditions and has influenced modern comedy greatly. This book offers insight into the various stock characters and gives extensive exercises to build Commedia skills. Commedia also scores big with risk-taking high school students, who are especially drawn to its bawdier aspects. I use this book with its companion volume of short Commedia plays, which includes a section on the various lazzi of Commedia.