Mostellaria Or The Haunted House

by Plautus

Mostellaria, also known as The Haunted House, is a comedic play written by the ancient Roman playwright Plautus. The play tells the story of a young man named Philolaches who lives a life of luxury and extravagance, spending all of his father's money on parties and women. When his father returns from a trip and discovers the extent of his son's spending, he cuts off his allowance and forbids him from seeing his lover, a courtesan named Philematium.Desperate to continue his lifestyle, Philolaches enlists the help of his servant Tranio to sneak Philematium into his father's house, which he has temporarily vacated. However, the house is haunted by the ghost of a former owner, who appears to Philolaches and his friends in various disguises, causing chaos and confusion.As the play progresses, Philolaches must navigate his father's return, the presence of the ghost, and his own guilt over his actions. With the help of Tranio and other servants, he attempts to cover up his misdeeds and reconcile with his father.Mostellaria is a classic example of Roman comedy, featuring mistaken identities, slapstick humor, and social commentary. It explores themes of greed, deception, and the consequences of one's actions, while also providing a lighthearted and entertaining story.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama, Classics, School, Ancient History, Ancient

76 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 185

About the author

Titus Maccius Plautus (c. 254 – 184 BC), commonly known as Plautus, was a Roman playwright of the Old Latin period. His comedies are the earliest works in Latin literature to have survived in their entirety. He wrote Palliata comoedia, the genre devised by the innovator of Latin literature, Livius Andronicus. The word Plautine refers to both Plautus's own works and works similar to or influenced by his.

Reviews

[Clàudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

el personatge de Tranió es resumeix en les següents paraules: gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss

[Albs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Plaute pots donar-nos més del que has fet aquí

[Illiterate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slave manages a haughty master and his errant son.

[Dorotea · Rating 3 out of 5]

La scena iniziale con Grumione e Tranione ("M'hai mandato una zaffata d'aglio, letamaio che non sei altro, tanghero, caprone, porcaio, sozza mistura di brago e sterco! / Che vuoi farci? Non è consentito a tuti odorari di profumi esotici come te, nè sedere a capotavola come fai tu, nè mangiare pietanzine delicate come quelle che mangi tu") e la scena con Callidamate ubriaco (Atto I, Scena Quarta) mi hanno fatto spaccare; in generale però ho trovato la trama abbastanza fastidiosa e non ho apprezzato pienamente la commedia.

[maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

pel cole.
4 estrelles merescudíssimes perquè no podia parar de riure tota l'estona amb frases del tipus et penjaré, ets un moc ben penjat o carallot i gamarús. pel que fa la història, què vols que et digui, curta.

[olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

philolaches would’ve made tik toks of him living off of daddy’s money

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una obra divertida que té el seu encant als seus primers actes però va degradant-se a mesura que s'allarga la trama.

Tot i que sembla molt actual i el llenguatge és molt proper, potser una representació teatral renovant el IV i el V acte seria millor.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I can’t understand why this play by Plautus was lauded in the critical introduction for its vivid characterization when we are given just more of the same with the clever slave, the “slow burn” master, the miserly money-lender, etc. Like a modern situation comedy, the plot has an amusing concept, but includes pointless characters (let’s call them “guest stars”), filler dialogue, and an all-too-neat ending. It wasn’t bad...just not very memorable.

[Beverley Sylvester]

Were it not for being told before reading this play, I would not have known this is a rewritten Roman version of the Greek play The Malcontent (AKA The Grouch) by Menander (which I have also read). They are both realistic plays which stood apart from others at the time as they contained neither gods nor heroes. Beyond that, however, they did not seem to be the same play to me.

[Andràș-Florin Răducanu · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Casa cu stafii" de Plaut

Citită în 23 mai.

Număr de pagini: 120.

Prima comedie de Plaut, foarte similară cu scrierile lui Moliere. Foarte bine scrisă și gândită. O comedie a moravurilor valabilă și astăzi.

Nota: 10.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Viktig föregångare till den västerländska komedin, som Comedia dell'arte och Shakespeares förväxlingskommedier osv. Men det känns inte som om den listige tjänaren i denna pjäs är så listig, utan snarare strular till det för sig.

[Nicoletta · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t think this one was too funny but Tranio was pretty entertaining. In Menaechmi I thought the characters were assholes. In this one, they were just boring.

[Katsuro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as his best work, but still funny.

[Thordur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Titus Maccius Platus var rómverskt leikritaskáld. Þessi bók er stutt, eitt leikverk og góður formáli á undan. Ef þú hefur áhuga á leikritagerð þá er þetta bók fyrir þig til þess að lesa.

[Caín · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cuando Simó le dice al Teopròpides que han sacado un muerto q estaba vivo antes solté una carcajada genuina

[Annagutierrezxox · Rating 4 out of 5]

me he cagado de risa

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

ups

[mire ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

tranión petardo

[Santiago González · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bastante mediocre, para bien y para mal. Funciona pero no es especialmente graciosa

[Recensioni in tre parole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Metatestuale. Divertente. Rocambolesco.

[Noa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una comèdia de les típiques romanes, llegida a classe de llatí. M’ha agradat però, no es dels meus llibres preferits.

[Yooperprof · Rating 2 out of 5]

Humor doesn't always translate well.

[pau rofes · Rating 3 out of 5]

plaute t'hauries pogut lluir més amb el final

[mia ╰(*´︶`*)╯♡]

read for intro to theatre & drama.

what is up w/ roman comedies being based on slaves somehow exploiting their masters???