J. Michael Walton

Four Roman Comedies: the Haunted House; Casina, or a Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Wedding; Eunuch; Brothers (Classical Dramatists) J. Michael Walton

Four essential classic plays with an introduction by the editor

The comedies of Plautus and Terence are all that survive to us of a great age of Roman comedy theatre. Collected here are four important plays that offer a unique insight into everyday life in ancient Rome, whilst maintaining a pivotal influence over the theatre of the present day. In The Haunted House the intrigues of a clever slave are played out in a virtuoso comic role; Plautus's Casina is a fast-moving romp through the sexual mores of the Roman upper classes; Terence's more sophisticated The Eunuch, and The Brothers are perhaps closer in sentiment to the attitudes of modern comedy and reflect situations with universal appeal. The volume is edited and introduced by J. Michael Walton, Professor of Drama at the University of Hull.