Theatre of the ridiculous : a critical history / Kelly I. Aliano.

Innehåller bibliografi och index

Revision of author's thesis (doctoral)--City University of New York , 2014, titled Ridiculous geographies : mapping the Theatre of the Ridiculous as radical aesthetic

Preface. "Ridiculous ghosts": uncovering a ridiculous past -- "A ridiculous triple threat": Charles Ludlam and the making of a ridiculous aesthetic -- The "godmother" of the ridiculous: Maria Montez and the ghosting of ridiculous theatre -- The "daddy" of the ridiculous: Jack Smith, pop art and proto-ridiculous performance -- "Ridiculous remix": playing at power at the play-house of the ridiculous -- "Ridiculous mashup": Ethyl Eichelberger and the performance of gender -- The ridiculous aesthetic across generations: the descendants of the ridiculous -- The ridiculous aesthetic across generations: the inheritors of the ridiculous -- Conclusion. Radical ridiculous theatre?

Theater of the Ridiculous is a significant movement that highlighted the radical possibilities inherent in camp. Much of contemporary theater owes this form a great debt but little has been written about its history or aesthetic markers. This book offers a comprehensive overview of the important practitioners, along with critical commentary of their work. Beginning with Ridiculous' most recognizable name, Charles Ludlam, the author traces the development of this campy, queer genre, from the B movies of Maria Montez to the Play-House of the Ridiculous and the dawn of Ludlam's career and finally to the contemporary theatre scene