The Braggart Soldier

When producing plays that are no longer protected by copyright, such as the works of Shakespeare, or ancient Greek and Roman tragedies and comedies, theatre companies often choose to update the script in some way in order to appeal to contemporary audiences. Sometimes they do this by connecting their production to a current issue or setting the play in a different setting location to make a point. One famous instance of this is Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 film William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, in which the director modernized the play by setting it in present-day Verona Beach. How might you update The Braggart Soldier for a contemporary audience? What issues might you connect to the play? How might you update the play so that the humor reaches audiences in the same way Plautus’s original might have reached Roman audiences?

How do gender and gender roles function in The Braggart? What might you surmise about gender roles in ancient Rome based on what you read in the play? How is Plautus either supporting or subverting those roles? How does the play speak to gender and gender roles in society today?