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Italian drama (Comedy) Books
Best books
Luigi Pirandello
La signora Morli una e due: Commedia in tre atti
"La signora Morli una e due: Commedia in tre atti" by Luigi Pirandello is a dramatic work likely written in the early 20th century. This play explores themes of identity, love, and social conventions through the complicated relationships among its characters, particularly focusing on Evelina Morli and her estranged husband Ferrante Morli, who reappears after years of absence. As they navigate their unresolved past and the implications of Ferrante's return, the dynamic with Lello Carpani, Evelina's current partner, adds further complexity to the narrative. The opening of the play introduces us to a richly decorated parlor in Lello Carpani's home, where tension simmers as Ferrante Morli arrives to deliver news about his return. Evelina, the central character, grapples with her emotions as she interacts with her husband, whom she thought she had lost forever. The scene is filled with lively exchanges with other characters, including their son Aldo and Lello Carpani, highlighting both the humor and the underlying conflict of their situation. The dialogue sets the stage for a dramatic exploration of family, loyalty, and the struggle for personal autonomy amidst societal expectations as both Evelina and Ferrante confront their shared history.
Luigi Pirandello
Tutto per bene: Commedia in 3 atti
"Tutto per bene: Commedia in 3 atti" by Luigi Pirandello is a play written in 1906 and first performed in 1920. Martino Lori is a widower devoted to his late wife's memory, though his daughter Palma despises him. Everyone believes Lori knowingly tolerates a shameful secret about his family for personal gain. When a confrontation forces the truth into light, Lori discovers he has been deceived his entire life by those closest to him.
Luigi Pirandello
Pensaci, Giacomino!
"Pensaci, Giacomino!" by Luigi Pirandello is a comedy written in early 1916. An elderly, underpaid Sicilian professor devises an unconventional revenge against the state: he marries his young pregnant student, offering to support her, her child, and her lover under one roof. This scandalous arrangement defies social conventions and provokes outrage in their small town. As gossip intensifies and outside pressures mount, the fragile household faces a crisis when the young father attempts to escape his responsibilities for a more respectable life.
Luigi Pirandello
La ragione degli altri: Commedia in tre atti
"La ragione degli altri: Commedia in tre atti" by Luigi Pirandello is a three-act comedy written in 1895 and first performed in 1915. When Livia discovers her husband Leonardo's affair and illegitimate daughter, she makes an unexpected choice. Rather than demanding separation, she proposes bringing the child into their own childless marriage. But this solution requires convincing the mother, Elena, to surrender her daughter for the sake of social respectability and the child's future—forcing her to accept "the reason of others" over her maternal bond.
Luigi Pirandello
Come prima meglio di prima: Commedia in tre atti
"Come prima meglio di prima: Commedia in tre atti" by Luigi Pirandello is a theatrical comedy written in 1919. When Fulvia Gelli attempts suicide after a life of excess, her abandoned husband Silvio—now a celebrated surgeon—saves her life. They reunite and she becomes pregnant, but her contempt for him puzzles onlookers at a Tuscan pension. A confrontation with Silvio and her former lover reveals a dark truth about their past that transforms understanding of their twisted relationship and forces devastating choices about family and deception.
Luigi Pirandello
L'innesto: Commedia in tre atti
"L'innesto: Commedia in tre atti" by Luigi Pirandello is a play written in 1917. After a brutal assault in a Roman park leaves Laura Banti pregnant, she attempts to transform the trauma through love, hoping to share the coming child with her husband Giorgio. But he feels only revulsion toward the unborn child, a symbol of violation. As Laura refuses to abort and prepares to leave, Giorgio must confront what he stands to lose. Can an act of violence be redeemed through the power of maternal love?
Luigi Pirandello
Vestire gli ignudi: Commedia in tre atti
"Vestire gli ignudi: Commedia in tre atti" by Luigi Pirandello is a three-act play written in the early 20th century. The play explores themes of identity, societal expectation, and the struggles of its main characters, particularly Ersilia Drei and Ludovico Nota, as they navigate their complex emotional states and tumultuous pasts. The opening of the play introduces us to Ludovico Nota, a novelist, and Ersilia Drei, a young woman who has just been released from the hospital after a turbulent episode in her life. The setting is a dimly lit room filled with old furniture. The atmosphere is tense and filled with the noise of the bustling city outside, which contrasts with the characters' internal turmoil. Ersilia, who appears to have just come from a crisis, reflects on her past traumas, while Ludovico expresses an eager yet complicated interest in her story. Their conversation reveals not only the depth of Ersilia's despair but also suggests Ludovico's desire to help her, even as both characters grapple with the implications of their intertwined lives. The narrative unfolds with dialogues that expose their emotional wounds and hint at the broader societal pressures shaping their destinies.
Unknown
Gl'ingannati degli accademici intronati di Siena Commedie del Cinquecento
"Gl'ingannati degli accademici intronati di Siena" by Unknown is a comedy written in 1531 and first performed in Siena in 1532. This collaborative work by the Accademia degli Intronati features a young woman who disguises herself as a boy to escape an arranged marriage. She becomes a page to the man she loves, delivering his romantic messages to another woman—who then falls for the disguised heroine. When her twin brother arrives, mistaken identities multiply into comedic chaos, inspiring Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night."
Agostino Ricchi
I tre tiranni Commedie del Cinquecento
"I tre tiranni" by Agostino Ricchi is a comedic play likely written in the early 17th century. The narrative unfolds amidst a backdrop of love and deception, focusing on the romantic entanglements and misadventures of several characters, including the lovesick Girifalco and the scheming Pilastrino. The play explores themes of desire, intrigue, and the follies of love, using characters to illustrate the impacts of fortune, love, and wealth. The beginning of the play introduces us to Girifalco, an elderly man lamenting his life and the trials of love, as he expresses his frustrations and desires regarding Lucia, the object of his affection. Pilastrino, a witty parasite, attempts to lighten Girifalco's mood by teasing him about his situation while simultaneously highlighting the absurdities of love and aging. The prologue, delivered by Mercurio, establishes the comedic tone and foreshadows the conflict among the titular three tyrants: Love, Fortune, and Gold, which are essential to the unfolding story. The characters are soon joined by a mix of servants and other nobles, setting the stage for comedic misunderstandings and dramatic encounters.
Bernardo Dovizi
La Calandria Commedie del Cinquecento
"La Calandria" by Bernardo Dovizi da Bibbiena is a comedy written in 1513. Based on classical sources, this Italian Renaissance play follows twin siblings separated at age six during a Turkish invasion. Years later, both twins arrive in Rome—each disguised as the other. Lidio pursues a married woman named Fulvia, while Santilla faces an arranged marriage. Through mistaken identities and domestic deceptions involving Fulvia's foolish husband Calandro, the comedy spirals toward chaos before the twins' eventual reunion.
Francesco Belo
Il pedante Commedie del Cinquecento
"Il pedante" by Francesco Belo is a comedy written in the early 20th century, exploring themes of love, social status, and the folly of pedantry. The narrative centers around the character Curzio, an amorous young man embroiled in romantic pursuits, and Prudenzio, the pedante of the title, who embodies the pretensions of scholarly wisdom. At the start of the play, the prologue sets an engaging tone, with a character pleading for the audience's attention and intimating the comedic nature of the unfolding drama. Curzio laments being forced into an unwanted marriage by his master, feeling the weight of betrayal and unfulfilled love. As he navigates his emotions, he is determined not to let the pedante, who is vying for the affections of the same woman, thwart his pursuits. The opening portrays a lively interaction between characters, establishing the humorous conflicts and intricate relationships that promise to develop throughout the comedy.
Giambattista della Porta
La fantesca
"La fantesca" by Giambattista della Porta is a comedic play written in the late 16th century. The story revolves around themes of love and jealousy, prominently featuring characters such as Essandro, who disguises himself as a female servant, and Nepita, who is embroiled in the complicated romantic maneuvers involving her mistress Cleria. The play explores the chaos that ensues as love triangles and rivalries develop, driven by the titular concept of jealousy. The opening of the play introduces the personification of Jealousy, who sets the stage for the comedic turmoil to come. This character articulates the destructive nature of jealousy and its ability to reignite romantic passions, laying the foundation for the plot. The audience meets Nepita and Essandro, who engage in a lively banter about their roles and the tensions arising from love and jealousy in their household. As Essandro, in disguise, navigates his feelings for Cleria and the chaos instigated by the jealous dynamics among the characters, the stage is set for a humorous exploration of relationships and the lengths one will go to for love.
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