Commedia dell'Arte

.:Commedia dell’Arte:.

Summary:

Commedia dell’arte took place in the 16^th century during the Renaissance and was an improvisational theatre form. Commedia dell’arte took a series of “stock characters” that were recognized by their hand made masks and performed improvised but memorized scenario plays. The main focus of these plays was themed around love intrigues and money tricks. Important parts of each play were random (having nothing to do with the plot) stunts the players would do for comic relief. Some of these stunts, or lazzi, were acrobatic tricks, juggling, pantomime, etc.

 

Seeing A Performance:

Though they were known to have performed in palaces for royals, Commedia dell’Arte players usually traveled from town to town in a wagon, which transformed into the stage, and performed in general street scenes. The set itself was very basic and minimal while they used wondrous variety of props--everything from food to animals to weapons. Townspeople would come outside and gather around the wagon-made-stage to watch the show. The characters would come out in specialized costumes and masks with over exaggerated body language. The costumes would not only inform of distinct character, they would also emphasize mood/emotion and social class. Though there would be no script, there would be a clear beginning, middle, and end divided into scenes. Music was a very important part of these performances. In fact, it wasn’t usually for the audience to join in the “merry making” by the end of the show.

 

Visuals:

This image depicts Commedia dell-arte players performing on their stage transformed from their wagon for the gathered, standing townspeople. The lack of elaborate set is also visible in the picture. 

This image depicts the stock character Pantalone. He’s being played by and/or wearing a mask to make him look like an old man. He meets the posture stereotype by being bent over with his rear sticking out. This posture tells us that both he’s old, and that he is slouching to better protect his money—which is usually held in a pouch around he waist. He’s wearing a red and black costume with hat and shoes very similar to typical costumes his character is supposed to wear. He’s depicting what the classic Pantalone character is supposed to look like.

 

The man in the video is instructing and showing a group of presumably theatre students how to be the character Pantalone. He shows them how to move in proper posture, different reactions and gestures Pantalone is classic to have in use in a variety of situations, whether they be scheming or rejoicing.

 

Interesting Facts:

-Women were actually allowed to play women’s roles, as opposed to most other theatre of the time.

-Not all the characters wore masks; the women and young lovers didn’t wear masks. Instead they wore heavy/distinguishing makeup.

-The term “slapstick came from the character Arlecchino who had two sticks that were tied together that made a lot of noise when they smacked—or “slapped”—together.

 

Sources:

Bellinger, Martha Fletcher. A Short History of the Drama. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1927. pp. 153-7. <http://www.theatrehistory.com/italian/commedia_dell_arte_001.html>

Rudlin, John. Commedia dell’Arte: an Actor’s Handbook. 28 Feb. 2000 <http://www1.american.edu/IRVINE/jenn/>

Last, First. About.com. Commedia dell’Arte: Parts 1-3. <http://italian.about.com/library/weekly/aa110800a.htm>

Felner, Mira, and Orenstein, Claudia. The World of Theatre: Tradition and Innovation. Pearson Education, Inc., 2006.