Commedia Dell ArteCommedia Dell Artecomedy (Commedia) of the comedy (Commedia) of the professional guilds or artists professional guilds or artists

(dell'Arte)(dell'Arte) (Judith Chaffee)(Judith Chaffee)

(About.com Italian Language)(About.com Italian Language)

The Italian RenaissanceThe Italian Renaissance

Renaissance means rebirth. Renaissance means rebirth. Commedia dell Arte occurred during Commedia dell Arte occurred during the period known as the Italian the period known as the Italian RenaissanceRenaissance

Commedia StyleCommedia Style

When commedia began, no town was large When commedia began, no town was large enough to support a company of actors. enough to support a company of actors. To make a living, the players had to travel. To make a living, the players had to travel. This meant they usually worked without This meant they usually worked without scenery. They may have worked on scenery. They may have worked on portable stages, in a courtyard or in a portable stages, in a courtyard or in a banquet hall. banquet hall.

Each character had his own unique Each character had his own unique costume and most wore maskscostume and most wore masks

The actors used stock characters and The actors used stock characters and flexible plots to create an improvised flexible plots to create an improvised performance with basic gags. performance with basic gags.

(Grote 330-331)(Grote 330-331)

Arlecchino( Harlequino)Arlecchino( Harlequino)

A mischievous servant; full of wonderA mischievous servant; full of wonderTypically wore a checkerboard Typically wore a checkerboard

costumecostumeHalf black/half white faceHalf black/half white face

(About.com Italian Language) (About.com Italian Language)

PantalonePantalone

An old; rich manAn old; rich manWore large pants (hence the name) Wore large pants (hence the name)

with large pockets or a large purse with large pockets or a large purse for all his wealth.for all his wealth.

Often wants to be wed to ColumbinaOften wants to be wed to Columbina

BrighellaBrighella

A crafty servant, deceitful; A crafty servant, deceitful; sometimes a bullysometimes a bully

(About.com Italian Language) (About.com Italian Language)

PulcinellaPulcinella

A hump-backed, dim-witted male A hump-backed, dim-witted male charactercharacter

Sometimes portrayed with a beak-Sometimes portrayed with a beak-like nose. like nose.

(Schanker and Ommanney 307)(Schanker and Ommanney 307)

(About.com Italian Language)(About.com Italian Language)

CapitanoCapitano

A cowardly,braggart soldierA cowardly,braggart soldierTypically has a long mustache and Typically has a long mustache and

wears a military uniform wears a military uniform

(Schanker and Ommanney 307)(Schanker and Ommanney 307)

(About.com Italian Language) (About.com Italian Language)

Dottore(Doctore)Dottore(Doctore)

Elderly gentleman, friend. Elderly gentleman, friend. Sometimes rival of PantaloneSometimes rival of Pantalone

A lawyer or man of medicine lacking A lawyer or man of medicine lacking common sense ( the ancestor of the common sense ( the ancestor of the absent minded professor)absent minded professor)

Brags about knowledge and Brags about knowledge and authorityauthority(Schanker and Ommanney 307)(Schanker and Ommanney 307) (About.com Italian Language) (About.com Italian Language)

Columbine/IsabellaColumbine/Isabella

The beautiful girl; not always The beautiful girl; not always intelligent; singsintelligent; sings

Dressed beautifully; might have Dressed beautifully; might have flowersflowers

A high spirited flirtA high spirited flirtServant girl Servant girl (Schanker and Ommanney 307)(Schanker and Ommanney 307)

(About.com Italian Language)(About.com Italian Language)

LAZZILAZZI

The comic improvisation of a scene. Referred to The comic improvisation of a scene. Referred to as the “comic bits”.as the “comic bits”.

The performers maintain proper focus in the The performers maintain proper focus in the scene.scene.

Performers engage the entire audience. Lazzi Performers engage the entire audience. Lazzi might include some local humor.might include some local humor.

Performers maintain character Performers maintain character After playing the character for years, a performer After playing the character for years, a performer

developed several lazzi to choose from and thus developed several lazzi to choose from and thus could perform in hundreds of plays by adapting could perform in hundreds of plays by adapting the character and lazzi to fit new situations. the character and lazzi to fit new situations.

(Grote 330-331)(Grote 330-331)

(Discovery Education)(Discovery Education)

SourcesSources Chafee, Judith. "Home." Chafee, Judith. "Home." Judith Chaffee's Commedia Judith Chaffee's Commedia

WebsiteWebsite. 28 Jan 2009 . 28 Jan 2009 <<http://www.commedia-dell-arte.comhttp://www.commedia-dell-arte.com/>. />.

"Commedia dell'Arte." "Commedia dell'Arte." About.com Italian LanguageAbout.com Italian Language. 28 Jan . 28 Jan 2009 2009 <http://italian.about.com/library/weekly/aa110800a.htm>. <http://italian.about.com/library/weekly/aa110800a.htm>.

"Commedia dell Arte." "Commedia dell Arte." Discovery EducationDiscovery Education. Discovery . Discovery Communications,LLC.. 30 Jan 2009 Communications,LLC.. 30 Jan 2009 <http://www.discoveryeducation.com/my/home.cfm>. <http://www.discoveryeducation.com/my/home.cfm>.

Grote, David. Grote, David. Theater Preparation and PerformanceTheater Preparation and Performance. . Revised. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman and Co., 1989. Revised. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman and Co., 1989.

Schanker, Harry H., and Ommanney, Katherine Anne. Schanker, Harry H., and Ommanney, Katherine Anne. The The Stage and The School.Stage and The School. 8th. New York: Glenco,McGraw-Hill, 8th. New York: Glenco,McGraw-Hill, 1999. 1999.