ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the genre of Cinquecento erudite scripted comedy, the so-called “commedia erudita,” and the role of the young, nubile heroine who is often allotted more than just a cameo appearance in the balance of the plot. It seeks to highlight reasons more sophisticated than the traditional innamoramento for women’s crossdressing on the Renaissance stage. The chapter offers a reassessment of the influence of Angelo Beolco/Ruzante in the scripted comedy tradition by looking at one of his comedies, L’Anconitana, alongside post-Anconitana commedie erudite. It examines Margherita Costa’s Li buffoni, the first extant female-authored comedy of early modern Italy. Margherita Costa was a Roman poet, courtesan, performer, and famous court singer or ‘virtuosa'. The variety of genres with which Costa experimented would suggest a desire to please and entertain in an effort to the summon sponsorship, support, and protection.
