From the fifth to the second century BC, innovative comedy drama flourished in Greece and Rome. This collection brings together the greatest works of Classical comedy, with two early Greek plays: Aristophanes' bold, imaginative Birds, and Menander's The Girl from Samos, which explores popular contemporary themes of mistaken identity and sexual misbehaviour; and two later Roman comic plays: Plautus' The Brothers Menaechmus - the original comedy of errors - and Terence's bawdy yet sophisticated double love-plot, The Eunuch. Together, these four plays demonstrate the development of Classical comedy, celebrating its richness, variety and extraordinary legacy to modern drama.

Applies the recent `return to history' in film studies to the genre of classical Hollywood comedy as well as broadening the definition of those works considered central in this field.

Classical Comedy- An Armoury of Laughter, Democracy's Bastion of Defence repudiates Aristotle's claim in Poetics, that tragedy was the jewel of fifth century democracy, arguing that the claim belongs to comedy, as a brilliantly entertaining defense of social values and standards. Tom Rothfield examines every aspect of classicism, analyzing comedy's origins, and structure, to demonstrate the reasons for classical comedy's universal and continued significance. He breaks down theatrical mechanisms, including the playhouse, masks, costumes, a comedian's comic skills, the playwright's inventive genius in plot development, character development, and effective jokes. Through his analysis, Rothfield demonstrates the classical framework, and classical comic criteria that provides an unrivalled model for contemporary theater.

(Applause Books). Includes: Aristophanes: Lysistrata , translated by Donald Sutherland; The Birds , translated by Walter Kerr; Menander: The Grouch , translated by Sheila D'Atri; Plautus: The Menaechmi , translated by Palmer Bovie; The Haunted House , translated by Palmer Bovie; Terence: The Self-Tormentor , translated by Palmer Bovie.

Rich anthologies of dramatic art and critical insight ä varied stimulating broad in its view and deep in its perceptions...exciting variety of translations...enlightening essays from some of the most stiumlating minds of the century. ä Leonard C. Pronko author ÊTheatre East and WestÊ Chair Dept. of Theatre Pomona College. Includes: Aristophanes: Lysistrata translated by Donald Sutherland; The Birds translated by Walter Kerr; Menander: The Grouch translated by Sheila D'Atri; Plautus: The Menaechmi translated by Palmer Bovie; The Haunted House translated by Palmer Bovie; Terence: The Self-Tormentor translated by Palmer Bovie.

Contains: Women in power; Wealth; The malcontent; The woman from Samos.

For students of English and European literature, renaissance studies, comparative literature, drama and classics.