Trial by Farce: A Dozen Medieval French Comedies in English for the Modern Stage

During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, France had a thriving farce culture that was written by lawyers and targeted judges and religious figures. Jody Enders has translated twelve of the funniest legal farces into English, offering a new understanding of comedy as a form of political correction. Farce portrays a different cultural picture of the Middle Ages with its vision of liberty and justice for all.

Format: Hardback
Length: 284 pages
Publication date: 06 March 2023
Publisher: The University of Michigan Press

Comedy, a timeless art form, extends far beyond the works of Chaucer, The Second Shepherds Play, and Shakespeare. While these great English authors have left an indelible mark on the comedic landscape, it is in France that one can truly immerse oneself in the rich tapestry of medieval and Renaissance humor. Over two hundred extant farces, still captivating audiences to this day, thrive in France, dwarfing all other contemporaneous theatrical repertoires. The French corpus is a testament to the nation's love for laughter, with a majority of these farces written by lawyers, lawyers everywhere. It is no surprise, given the sharp wit and penchant for satire that characterize these works.

Among the most famous and prolific farce writers were barristers, law students, and legal apprentices. These individuals, known as the Basoche, were a 10,000-member legal society that thrived between 1450 and 1550. Their farces were renowned for their skewering of unjust judges and irreligious ecclesiastics, often taking aim at the social and political injustices of their time. The Basoche's dramatic send-ups of real and fictional court cases were a source of entertainment and a means of political commentary, challenging the powers that be and advocating for justice.

However, the scripts for these outrageous shows were available only in French editions, scattered across print and manuscript sources. It was not until the work of theater historian Jody Enders that these comedic gems were brought to the English-speaking world in a refreshingly uncensored but philologically faithful vernacular. In Trial by Farce, Enders presents twelve of the funniest legal farces, offering a new understanding of comedy as a form of political correction.

Through the distinctive blend of wit, social critique, and breathless boisterousness that is farce, these plays come vividly to life. The characters, familiar stock figures who have become iconic in the comedic world, struggle with the limits of power, politics, class, gender, and justice. Their comedic escapades, filled with mistaken identities, misunderstandings, and hilarious situations, provide a window into the human condition and the complexities of social interactions.

In conclusion, while Chaucer, The Second Shepherds Play, and Shakespeare have played significant roles in the development of comedy, it is in France that one can truly appreciate the depth and breadth of medieval and Renaissance humor. The French farces, written by lawyers and legal apprentices, offer a unique perspective on the human condition, challenging societal norms and advocating for justice. Jody Enders' translation of these plays in Trial by Farce allows English-speaking audiences to experience the laughter and joy that has been enjoyed by audiences in France for centuries.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780472075850