Abstract
Introducing Luigi Riccoboni and the Nouveau Théâtre Italien, McMahan reveals the early challenges facing this migrant troupe of actors. The introduction also maps out the analytic framework of the book, synthetizing terms such as border-crossing and transnational as they relate to commedia dell’arte, eighteenth-century France, and comedy. Finally, the chapter outlines what may be revealed by comparing Riccoboni to other migrant comedians across time. Ultimately, the introduction characterizes Riccoboni and his actors as cultural ambassadors, ones who used comedy to address notions of national identity and cultural difference on stage.
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McMahan, M.J. (2021). Introduction. In: Border-Crossing and Comedy at the Théâtre Italien, 1716–1723. Transnational Theatre Histories. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70071-3_1
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