Six Characters in Search of an Author E-Book

Luigi Pirandello

• Herausgeber: Passerino
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

Six Characters in Search of an Author is an Italian play by Luigi Pirandello, written and first performed in 1921. An absurdist metatheatrical play about the relationship among authors, their characters, and theatre practitioners, it premiered at the Teatro Valle in Rome to a mixed reception, with shouts from the audience of "Manicomio!" ("Madhouse!") and "Incommensurabile!" ("incomprehensible!"), a reaction to the play's illogical progression. Reception improved at subsequent performances, especially after Pirandello provided for the play's third edition, published in 1925, a foreword clarifying its structure and ideas.
The play had its American premiere in 1922 on Broadway at the Princess Theatre and was performed for over a year off-Broadway at the Martinique Theatre beginning in 1963.

Luigi Pirandello (28 June 1867 – 10 December 1936) was an Italian dramatist, novelist, poet, and short story writer whose greatest contributions were his plays. He was awarded the 1934 Nobel Prize in Literature for "his almost magical power to turn psychological analysis into good theatre." Pirandello's works include novels, hundreds of short stories, and about 40 plays, some of which are written in Sicilian. Pirandello's tragic farces are often seen as forerunners of the Theatre of the Absurd.

Translated by Edward Storer.

Leseprobe

Luigi Pirandello

The sky is the limit

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Table of contents

CHARACTERS of the Comedy in the Making

ACTORS of the Company

Daytime. The Stage of a Theatre

ACT I

ACT II

ACT III

CHARACTERS of the Comedy in the Making

THE FATHER

THE MOTHER

THE STEP-DAUGHTER

THE BOY

THE CHILD

(The last two do not speak)

THE SON

MADAME PACE

ACTORS of the Company

THE MANAGER

LEADING LADY

LEADING MAN

SECOND LADY

L'INGÉNUE

JUVENILE LEAD

OTHER ACTORS AND ACTRESSES

PROPERTY MAN

PROMPTER

MACHINIST

MANAGER'S SECRETARY

DOOR-KEEPER

SCENE-SHIFTERS

Daytime. The Stage of a Theatre

N. B. The Comedy is without acts or scenes. The performance is interrupted once, without the curtain being lowered, when the manager and the chief characters withdraw to arrange the scenario. A second interruption of the action takes place when, by mistake, the stage hands let the curtain down.

ACT I

The spectators will find the curtain raised and the stage as it usually is during the day time. It will be half dark, and empty, so that from the beginning the public may have the impression of an impromptu performance. Prompter's box and a small table and chair for the manager.

Two other small tables and several chairs scattered about as during rehearsals.

The ACTORS and ACTRESSES of the company enter from the back of the stage: first one, then another, then two together; nine or ten in all. They are about to rehearse a Pirandello play: Mixing it Up. [Il giuoco delle parti.] Some of the company move off towards their dressing rooms. The PROMPTER who has the "book" under his arm, is waiting for the manager in order to begin the rehearsal.

The ACTORS and ACTRESSES, some standing, some sitting, chat and smoke. One perhaps reads a paper; another cons his part.

Finally, the MANAGER enters and goes to the table prepared for him. His SECRETARY brings him his mail, through which he glances. The PROMPTER takes his seat, turns on a light, and opens the "book."

The Manager [throwing a letter down on the table]. I can't see [To PROPERTY MAN.] Let's have a little light, please!

Property Man. Yes sir, yes, at once. [A light comes down on to the stage.]

The Manager [clapping his hands]. Come along! Come along! Second act of "Mixing It Up." [Sits down.] [The ACTORS and ACTRESSES go from the front of the stage to the wings, all except the three who are to begin the rehearsal.]

The Prompter [reading the "book"]. "Leo Gala's house. A curious room serving as dining-room and study."

The Manager [to PROPERTY MAN]. Fix up the old red room.

Property Man [noting it down]. Red set. All right!

The Prompter [continuing to read from the "book"]. "Table already laid and writing desk with books and papers. Book-shelves. Exit rear to Leo's bedroom. Exit left to kitchen. Principal exit to right."

The Manager [energetically]. Well, you understand: The principal exit over there; here, the kitchen. [Turning to actor who is to play the part of SOCRATES.] You make your entrances and exits here. [To PROPERTY MAN.] The baize doors at the rear, and curtains.

Property Man [noting it down]. Right!

Prompter [reading as before]. "When the curtain rises, Leo Gala, dressed in cook's cap and apron is busy beating an egg in a cup. Philip, also dresesd as a cook, is beating another egg. Guido Venanzi is seated and listening."

Leading Man [To MANAGER]. Excuse me, but must I absolutely wear a cook's cap?

The Manager [annoyed]. I imagine so. It says so there anyway. [Pointing to the "book."]

Leading Man. But it's ridiculous!