The Menaechmi
Plautus
This comedy about twins separated after birth is Plautus' best-known play. Plautus was the most popular Roman comic writer and reading this play would definately be beneficial.
◘Many plays from the Renaissance up until modern day are based on this plot, including Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors.
◘The stock characters used in this play are repeated throughout theatre history.
◘Plautus was a master of colloquial Latin.
◘It is interesting to read Plautus' plays and imagine how it was performed. It is believed that most of the dialogue was sung, but since we don't have the music, you can make up your own as you read.
Phormio
Terence
Terence wrote six plays, any of which could be read in order to understand his style.
◘His plays were used as literary models during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
◘A lot of mystery surrounds his background because he may have been African, making him the first major black playwright of western theatre.
◘His work is less theatrical and the dialogue was meant to be spoken, which gives a good contrast to Plautus' style.
◘His plays have strong moral ideals, so you will learn something about acceptable behavior in Rome and maybe even learn a life lesson.