COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE THE POPULAR THEATRE OF RENAISSANCE ITALY

“COMEDY OF ART” OR “COMEDY OF THE PROFESSION” Thrived from Thrived from Much of the dialogue and business was improvised Much of the dialogue and business was improvised A scenario was posted back stage A scenario was posted back stage Produced mostly low comedy, slap stick Produced mostly low comedy, slap stick Used stock characters similar to Plautus (Greek) Used stock characters similar to Plautus (Greek) Actors adapted their comic dialogue and action according to a few basic plots (commonly love intrigues) and to topical issues Actors adapted their comic dialogue and action according to a few basic plots (commonly love intrigues) and to topical issues

Consisted of 10 performers (seven men and three women) Consisted of 10 performers (seven men and three women) Improvisation was made easier because they used standard lazzi - repeated bits of physical comic business Improvisation was made easier because they used standard lazzi - repeated bits of physical comic business For example, capitano would get entangled with his sword so that is would emerge from between his legs. For example, capitano would get entangled with his sword so that is would emerge from between his legs. Think “The Three Stooges” movement Think “The Three Stooges” movement Commedia actors played the same stock character throughout most of their careers Commedia actors played the same stock character throughout most of their careers

STOCK CHARACTERS Zanni = Clowns Zanni = Clowns Vecchi = Villains Vecchi = Villains Innamorati = Lovers Innamorati = Lovers A pair of young lovers A pair of young lovers 1. A dapper young man 1. A dapper young man 2. A sophisticated young lady, noble and innocent. 2. A sophisticated young lady, noble and innocent.

Il Capitano – a pompous braggart who boasted of his great prowess in love and battle, but was usually discredited in both Il Capitano – a pompous braggart who boasted of his great prowess in love and battle, but was usually discredited in both PRIMARY COMIC TRAIT: Egotism. SECONDARY COMIC TRAIT: Cowardice or ineptitude, in contrast to his primary trait.

Pantalone -- a greedy, lustful, meddling old man. Often a merchant Pantalone -- a greedy, lustful, meddling old man. Often a merchant PRIMARY COMIC TRAIT: Greed and stinginess -- usually of money but can apply it to women, power, food, or whatever else captures his fancy. SECONDARY COMIC TRAIT: Old man. Jokes about prostate troubles, broken hips, and 'back in my day we wore an onion on our belt' will abound.

Il Dottore – A doctor (or professor) who spoke inaccurate Latin. His standard dress was the academic cap and gown. Il Dottore – A doctor (or professor) who spoke inaccurate Latin. His standard dress was the academic cap and gown. PRIMARY COMIC TRAIT: Egotism and pride; often conflicting with his actual stupidity and ineptitude.

Two servants or zanni. One smart and one less smart. The less smart servant was usually an insolent liar, thief and/or drunkard. Two servants or zanni. One smart and one less smart. The less smart servant was usually an insolent liar, thief and/or drunkard. Most of the humor came through the actions of the servants. Most of the humor came through the actions of the servants.

Scaramuccia - a roguish clown character who wears a black mask and, sometimes, glasses Pulcinella - Always dressed in white with a black mask (hence conciliating the opposites of life and death) - Often carries around macaroni and a wooden spoon. - traditional temperament is to be mean, vicious, and crafty and his main mode of defense is to pretend to be too stupid to know what's going on. Arlecchino (Harlequin) - Traditionally portrayed by a physically agile actor and makes use of slapstick and stunts. - Not particularly bright though the extremes to which this is taken vary by the scenario. - He wears a dark brown or black colored mask, sometimes with a beard or mustache attached. - Uses a wooden prop - usually a wooden sword or a wooden stick (originally a slapstick, but later evolutions show it as just a walking stick or cane.)