Sei personaggi in cerca d’autore
Ciascuno a modo suo. Stasera si recita a soggetto
📘 About This Book
Sei personaggi in cerca d'autore (1920), Ciascuno a suo modo (1923) e Questa sera si recita a soggetto (1923) furono definite da Pirandello, nel 1933, la ‟trilogia del teatro nel teatro”: ‟non solo perché hanno espressamente azione sul palcoscenico e nella sala, ma anche perché di tutto il complesso degli elementi d'un teatro, personaggi e attori, autori, e direttore-capocomico o regista, rappresentano ogni possibile conflitto”. Così, per la prima volta in un unico volume, si presentano questi tre ‟capitoli” di un discorso unitario sul rapporto tra teatro e vita, sulla follia dell'esistenza, con una ricca appendice che fa la storia dei singoli testi, note chiare, e un'introduzione alla filosofia, e all'attualità, di Pirandello.
📖 Summary
Luigi Pirandello’s masterwork of dramatic literature, presented here alongside its companion pieces Ciascuno a suo modo and Questa sera si recita a soggetto, forms the definitive trilogy of theater within the theater. Written and conceived to dismantle traditional boundaries between stage and audience, fiction and reality, this volume captures the absolute essence of Pirandellian philosophy. As the author himself articulated in 1933, these plays do not merely take place on the stage; they actively interrogate the entire apparatus of theatrical production, exploring every possible conflict that arises among characters, actors, authors, and directors. At the center of this 2019 publication lies the timeless predicament of Six Characters in Search of an Author, originally published in 1920, where unfinished fictional beings materialize before a bewildered troupe of actors, demanding that their dramatic truth be brought to life. Across all three texts, Pirandello investigates the profound madness of human existence and the fragile constructs of identity. The volume is further enriched by an exhaustive historical appendix detailing the genesis of each individual text, lucid explanatory notes, and a comprehensive introduction that illuminates the continuing relevance and philosophical depth of Pirandello's vision. By uniting these three distinct chapters of a singular discourse on the relationship between art and life, the collection offers readers an immersive journey into the heart of modern drama. It challenges how we perceive performance, truth, and the masks we wear both on stage and in everyday life, cementing Pirandello's status as a visionary pioneer of meta-theater.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Collects the complete trilogy of theater within the theater in a single volume for the first time.
Features a rich historical appendix detailing the background of each text.
Includes clear, helpful editorial notes.
Offers a valuable introductory essay on Pirandello's philosophy and contemporary relevance.
⚠️ Cons
The avant-garde and meta-theatrical structure may challenge readers accustomed to conventional linear narratives.
Language barriers may apply for readers looking for English translations, as the original commentary targets an Italian-reading audience.
✍️ About the Author
❓ FAQ
What is included in this 2019 edition? +
It includes the trilogy of theater within the theater: Sei personaggi in cerca d'autore, Ciascuno a suo modo, and Questa sera si recita a soggetto, along with an appendix, notes, and an introduction.
What does the trilogy of theater within the theater mean? +
It refers to plays that explicitly use the stage and auditorium to explore conflicts among characters, actors, authors, and directors.
When was the foundational play originally published? +
Sei personaggi in cerca d'autore was originally published in 1920.
Who defined these three works as a trilogy? +
Luigi Pirandello himself defined them as a trilogy in 1933.
Are there editorial aids included in the book? +
Yes, the volume includes a rich appendix detailing the history of the texts, clear notes, and an introductory essay on Pirandello's philosophy and modernity.
