1. Italian Renaissance
A.D.

2. The Renaissance 1330 – 1550 A.D. Began in Florence, Italy
“Renaissance” – “rebirth”
A time of fascination with philosophy, literature, art, and science.
A time of Humanists
Humanists were people devoted to the humanities: literary culture, the revival of classical letters, individualistic and critical spirit, and emphasis on secular concerns.

3. Humanism Humanists were considered the founders of the Renaissance.
They studied the areas that were known as studia humanitatis.
The studia humanitatis was made up of 5 disciplines; grammar, rhetoric, history, literary studies and moral philosophy.

4. Commedia’s Beginnings
Italian troups and itinerate actors originated the style in 1500’s
Remained popular for over 200 years
Not known as Commedia dell’Arte until 1600’s
The style utilized improvisation, masks, and set plots
Performances largely improvised. General story line posted backstage: “the plot.”

5. Commedia dell 'Arte Liter”Comedy of the Artists”
Style of comedy based on improvised scenes guided by scenarios.
Plays contained lots of risky humor and slapstick.
These plays were meant purely for amusement.
The actors were acrobats, dancers, and musicians.

6. Stock Characters A character that is reused in other shows.
Had unique and recognizable masks, costumes, stature, walk, and mannerisms.

7. Examples of
Stock Characters

8. Arlecchino Often a servant to Pantalone, Capitano, or Dottore
Always trying to trick master, but always fails
Commedia dell ‘Arte’s Bart Simpson

9. Pantalone
Rich, old man
Puts money and social class above everything else
Lusts after women he can never get.

10. Dottore Doctor Knows absolutely nothing about medicine
Rambles on so people wont know he is incompetent.

11. Capitano
Macho man
Arrogant, huge ego, always bragging
Coward at heart

12. Columbina Female Clever Servant
She was often the only functional intellect on the stage. Columbina aided her mistress, the innamorata to gain the affections of her one true love

13. Innamorati Unmasked characters representing young lovers.
Incapable of resolving their own problems.

14. Costumes Costumes were unique to the stock character.
Colors reflected emotional state.
Quality of costume style reflected the social status of the character.

15. Masks Every stock character had a unique mask.
Made of mostly wood. (Sometimes fur, cloth, or feathers for extra character).
Masks

16. What Actors Did
Actors chose from stock characters or created their own
Actors performed set comedy routines called lazzi
Actors also showcased special talents: juggling, acrobatics, dancing or musical interludes
Women allowed to perform, taking form of innocent heroine and not-so-innocent friend

17. Significance of the Style
Without the burden of recreating the work of Greek masters, commedia actors developed new physical qualities in the work.
Skills in tumbling, acrobatics, contortionists, and dangerously choreographed horseplay were in demand
Influenced the work of Shakespeare, Moliere Charlie Chaplin, the Marx Brothers, Red Skelton, Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, the Three Stooges, Tim Conway to name just a few

18. Just a few Lazzi Miss the nail while hammering and hit your thumb
Carpenter carries long plank on shoulders and hits his friend with the end of the plank as he turns
Drink from a water fountain and get squirted in the face
Slip on a banana peel

19. And a few more… Get your finger stuck in a bottle Pie in the face
Spill hot coffee on your lap
Sit on an egg
Your pants suddenly split
Play an invisible instrument

20. Performance Space Outside in town piazzas.
Carried stage, costumes, props, equipment, etc. on horse-drawn carts.
Stages were about 2 meters tall.
Room under stage served as changing area.
Good troupes performed at stationary theaters like Palladio's theatre in Vicenza or the Petit Bourbon.

21. Playwrights/Plays Niccoló Machiavelli
Most plays were based on scenarios and then improvised.
Few full-length plays written.
Niccoló Machiavelli
Wrote Mandragola

22. Stock Plots Mistaken identity
Young wife ( Amorosa) married to old husband (Pantaloon)
Clever but dishonest servant ( Zanni or Harlequin)
Bragging, but cowardly warrior warrior (Capitano)

23. Since most plays were improvised, directors weren’t really used.
Actors never became independently famous.
Many joined acting troupes known as “Commedia Troupes”.
Actors/Directors

24. Today? Improvisational games and activities Words like zany
Many ‘Simpsons’ and other TV/Film characters are influenced by stock characters.
Zanni = Homer, Pantalone = Mr. Burns, Arlecchino = Bart