Lizett Martinez in SHAKESPEARE ON COMEDY: A VAUDEVILLE (2004).
About The Deceived
BACKGROUND
The Deceived was first performed in 1532 for Carnival in the Palazzo Pubblico in Siena, Italy. A month earlier, the academicians known as the Intronati had staged a masque in which symbolically complained that their ladies were not generous with their affections. The ladies of Siena took offense and the Intronati promptly composed The Deceived where women took the initiative in matters of love.
Although the commedia dell'arte was not to appear for another twenty years, the story of The Deceived draws upon many themes that the future commedia plays were to develop: disguise, deception, amorous affairs, crafty servants, and young lovers frustrated by bawdy older men.
By the time Shakespeare wrote Twelfth Night in 1602, The Deceived was known throughout Europe. Part of the story's fascination centered on the main character of Lelia who is the first example in Italian theatre of a woman disguised as a page boy.
It is conjectured that Shakespeare read either The Deceived or one its many adaptations in translation and based Twelfth Night on the Italian story of a young woman disguised as a page boy in love with her master.
SYNOPSIS
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