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Overview
Synopsis
A blustering theatre director and his egotistical cast are in the midst of a rehearsal when a rag-tag family of characters enter, desperately seeking an author to complete their partially-finished stories. The director is not a writer, and the actors are skeptical, but before they know it they have all been drawn into the tragicomic tales of the Six Characters, and must see the drama through to its end.
A metatheatrical comedy, Six Characters in Search of an Author cemented Luigi Pirandello鈥檚 international reputation, and is now considered a classic piece of absurdist theatre. Nestled within the illogical narrative of the titular Six Characters are questions of truth, illusion, ownership, and authorship, making the play both a nonsensical and philosophical farce.
Show Information
- Book
- Luigi Pirandello
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1921
- Genres
- Dark Comedy, Comedy
- Settings
- Contemporary, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- A Theatre, The Present
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- None
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Child Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Six Characters in Search of an Author is Luigi Pirandello鈥檚 best-known play, and the one which cemented his reputation in the world of theatre - partially because of its infamy. When Six Characters was first performed at the Teatro Valle in Rome, the audience was - largely- outraged by the play鈥檚 nonsensical plot. However, this enigmatic play continued to be presented, and gradually gained momentum. Since its premiere, the play has been performed on Broadway many times, featured
to read the context for Six Characters in Search of an Author and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
In a darkened theatre rehearsal hall, a Property Man and Prompter (Stage Manager) enter and begin to make preparations for a rehearsal. They are shortly joined by several Actors, and then the Manager (Director), who calls a start to the rehearsal. The rehearsal finally begins, and we learn that the company is preparing for a presentation of another of Pirandello鈥檚 plays, Mixing It Up (sometimes translated as The Rules of the Game). In the scene they are about to rehearse, the
to read the plot for Six Characters in Search of an Author and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Silent |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Silent |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A male or female person who performs a role in a play, work of theatre, or movie.
Drama which abandons conventional dramatic form to portray the futility of human struggle in a senseless world.
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