Francesco Negri da Bassano - Tragedia intitolata Libero Arbitrio 1546 | 1550

Francesco Negri (1500-1563), a benedectine monk converted to Protestantism and escaped to Chiavenna, writes a dramatic text in Italian vernacular just when the Council of Trent starts, with a clear pedagogical aim: giving a practical resume of the flaws and errors of Roman Catholicism according to Reformers, moreover providing instruments for controversy and proselitism. His "Tragedia intitolata Libero Arbitrio", edited in 1546, re-edited with author's additions in 1550, and soon translated in Latin, French and English, brings the religious fight on the difficult stage of doctrinal theatre. Negri chooses the traditional five acts and entitles his drama "Tragedy" to give his tribute to the Aristotelian theory of dramatic genres, but he fills it up with rude jokes and puns; and, as another paradox, he chooses a definitely anti-theatrical prose and a totally un-theatrical lenght of scenes, acts and cues.. In his option for a "theatre for reading", consequent to his work and temperament as a skilled teacher, Negri is a standpoint in the culture of early Italian reformers, balancing humanistic tradition and the new acquisition of German popular reformed theatre.