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Academic Year 2004/2005

The Actor as Author: Dario Fo and the Tradition of the Commedia Dell'Arte
THEA 296 FA

This course will examine the physical comedy and dramaturgical structure of the plays of Dario Fo, the first actor to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. There will be a particular emphasis on Fo's roots in the performance traditions related to Commedia Dell'Arte and traditions of medieval storytelling. Fo's models of Aristophanes, Moliere, and Shakespeare who were also actors will also be examined, as will the Topeng tradition of Balinese masked comedy that has inspired many contemporary theater artists from Peter Brook to Julie Taymour. The black South African author/actors Percy Mtwa and Mbongeni Ngema will be discussed in the context of the apartheid environment in which they created their physical comedy.

MAJOR READINGS

Dario Fo, TRICKS OF THE TRADE
Dario Fo, MISTERO BUFFO
Dario Fo, WE WON'T PAY! WE WON'T PAY
Dario Fo, JOHAN PADAN AND THE DISCOVERY OF THE AMERICAS
Dario Fo, OBSCENE FABLES
Dario Fo, ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST
Aristophanes, THE FROGS
Shakespeare, THE TEMPEST
Moliere, DON JUAN
From Kaja to Kelod - I Made Bandem
Mbongeni Ngema and Percy Mtwa, WOZA ALBERT

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Papers/Performances
Final Research Projects

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: NONE    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-21-2005

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