Roman Comedy
- Synopsis
- A series studying the history of theatre. Through the ages, playwrights of comedy were indebted to the Roman master of farce and comedy, Plautus. Chief among them was William Shakespeare, whose grammar school education was grounded in the plays of Plautus. Scenes from Plautus’ Amphitryon are contrasted with Shakespeare’s A Comedy of Errors, showing how the Roman comedy became, in part, the catalyst for Shakespeare’s popular play. The film demonstrates the power of the large, oversized Roman masks used in Plautus’ theatre. On location footage places Plautus in the Rome of his day. Translation and adaptation from Latin by John D. Mitchell, with narration written and spoken by Mitchell.
- Series
- Theatre: The Search for Style
- Language
- English
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Video
- Technical information
- Colour / Sound
- Year of release
- 1987
- Duration
- 22 mins
Credits
- Director
- Jack Eddleman
- Cinematographer
- B. Mitchell
- Writer
- John D. Mitchell
- Contributor
- John D. Mitchell
- Cast
Brian Hinson Antipholus of Ephesus Ned Barth Antipholus of Syracuse Sarah Rice Adriana
Additional Details
- Production type
- Documentary/Educational/News
- Plays
- Comedy of Errors, The
- Subjects
- Classical studies; Drama
- Keywords
- comedy; Plautus; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)
Notes
- General
- Series linked to John D. Mitchell’s book Theatre: the Search for Style, Northwood Institute, 1982.
Production Company
Archive
- Name
University of North Carolina
- Phone
- 919-962-1301
- Fax
- 919-843-8936
- Address
- Media Resources Center
Walter Royal Davis Library
UNC, Chapel Hill
North Carolina 27514-8890
Distributor
- Name
Fordham University Press
- kasweeney@fordham.edu
- Web
- http://fordhampress.com/ External site opens in new window
- Phone
- +1 718 817-4795
- Fax
- +1 718 817-4785
- Address
- 2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L
Bronx
NY10458
USA - Notes
- Fordham University Press distributes on DVD and videocassette programmes on the history of world theatre made by the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Theatre Arts IASTA). Sale.
How to cite this record
Shakespeare, "Roman Comedy". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av66686 (Accessed 12 Nov 2024)