The Italian Puppet Theatre

The first full-length English language study of the Italian puppet theatre by John McCormick with Alfonso Cipolla and Alessandro Napoli. Chapters describe  Italy's rich puppet theatre tradition through the end of the eighteenth century; the golden age of glove puppets, marionettes and pupi; commedia dell'arte and the puppet stage; the evolution of repertoires; music and spectacle; and changes during the twentieth century. Concluding chapters offer in-depth studies of two marionette companies, Turin's Lupi Family and Catania's Fratelli Napoli. Published by Macfarland & Company Inc, Jefferson North Carolina & London, 2010, pp.302. 28 Colour Plates & 92 b/w photos. Plus diagrams of figures and controls by Clodagh McCormick p,249-252 and chapter notes, a glossary, bibliography & index. £38.00.