De caballos y otros animales en el teatro francés medieval
On Horses and other nonhuman Animals in french medieval Drama
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to examine the presence of nonhuman animals in French medieval drama, with a particular focus on horses and other species brought to perform in liturgical mysteries. Beginning with a brief account of the different ways of representing animals by means of mechanical objects and human impersonations, I then turn to discuss the performance of real animals in the Mystère de la passion, which was staged in the city of Mons in 1501. My analysis is informed by the study of the Livre de conduite du régisseur et le compte de dépenses pour le Mystère de la passion, a work that details the play’s every single animal expense, as well as the specific part played by animals. I will show how the performance unveils a modern zooscenographic understanding of stagecraft that turns the nonhuman animal into an element of paramount importance for the success of the play.
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