The Narrator, the Expositor, and the Prompter in European Medieval Theatre
P. Butterworth (ed.)
XIV+346 p., 13 b/w ill., 160 x 240 mm, 2007
ISBN: 978-2-503-52579-2
Languages: English
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Online content: http://dx.doi.org/10.1484/M.TCNE-EB.6.09070802050003050205070902
Interest in the content of this book has developed out of an
examination of the prompter who operated in full view of the
audience and offered all the lines to the players. In 2001 at
Groningen a production of the Towneley Second Shepherds’
Play focused on an examination of this convention. Many
of the audience responses then were concerned with the figure
of the prompter as he was seen to operate simultaneously both
'inside' and 'outside' the action of the play. Such a role and its
function is fascinating, not only in its own right, but also in
relation to how it might inform us about the nature and purpose of
presented theatre. The ability of such a figure to move in and out
of the action, and thus different realities, characterizes a
relationship to the action and the audience. The same fascination
exists in relation to roles of the narrator and the expositor.
Sometimes these roles are overt ones; sometimes they 'double up'
with roles of actors, personages or characters. These figures are
of pivotal significance in the communication of those plays in
which they operate. The purpose of this book is to investigate
the nature of these roles in order to identify their influence
upon the performance of medieval plays.
Review
"If the role of editor can be seen as akin to that of expositor and prompter, certainly Butterworth has drawn together a varied - and generally lively - cast of contributors. Each offers a thoughtful discussion of aspects of Butterworth's theme as identified in the volume's title." (Ian Brown, in: Theatre Notebook, Volume 62, n° 3, 2008, p. 173-174)
This publication is also distributed by: ISD, Marston