“New piles upon an old foundation”

The first chapter deals with Italy's cultural influence on Massinger's drama in terms of genre. It investigates tragicomedy's dominant place in the theatrical repertoire of the 1620s and 1630s and in Massinger's dramatic output, evaluating the playwright's contribution to the development of the genre. It also discusses the ways in which the playwright experimented with the Italian commedia grave, capitalising on its profound didactic and moral intent and on the theatregram of the wondrous woman (donna mirabile). Finally, the chapter considers Massinger's engagement with the commedia dell’arte and its characters.