The Theater Of Carlo Terron

The theater of Carlo Terron (1910-1991) is perhaps the most varied of his generation. His works range from the grotesque to the tragic,
from psychological drama to allegorical farce. Whether it takes the form of comedy or serious drama, Terron's oeuvre is essentially concerned with an investigation of the roots of guilt, and as such, it reflects the moral climate of post-World War II Italy. In this respect, Terron's plays may be compared to those of his contemporaries, Ugo Betti and
Diego Fabbri, which focus on similar moral issues and sometimes also employ the trial format. In most of his plays, Terron used his training as a psychiatrist to provide the intellectual framework for a world view in which the motives for action are seen as being so intertwined with the complex nature of life that it is almost impossible to fix individual moral responsibility. If Terron's protagonists reject judgment by others,
however, they are very quick to accuse, judge, and even punish themselves.
The Theater of Carlo Terron will for the first time introduce this compelling dramatist to the English-speaking world. Included are not only chronologies of Terron's life and work,
but, most importantly, two of his best and most representative works: The Trial of the Innocents (1950) and Arsenic, Tonight!
(1967).