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By the time the Roman Empire extended into Greece, comedy and entertainment had overtaken the ritual tragedies. Menander wrote comedies (of which none survive in their entirety) which centred on human dramas, often revolving around the adventures of a wily slave but avoiding satire, politics and religion completely.
Commedia dell'arte-figuur met gitaar, zwaard en masker (1621 - 1625) by Callot, JacquesRijksmuseum
The plays were bawdy, with lots of physical action and acrobatics. Their central themes became the basis of later Commedia dell'Arte performances and our own Punch and Judy.
By John DominisLIFE Photo Collection
As time went by performances became ever more rude and vulgar under the Roman Empire until theatres were no longer desirable or safe places, actors were considered of ill repute and, as Cicero said, drama was better read than seen. The seeds had been sown for future greatness though.
Stephen Sondheim’s musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is based upon the stories of Plautus’ plays Pseudolus and Miles Gloriosus and in turn led to the 1970s success of television’s Up Pompeii starring Frankie Howerd.
Virgin and Child (after 1454) by Rogier van der WeydenThe Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Read more and discover the morality of Medieval Theatre.
