Commedia dell'Arte, also known as "Italian comedy," was a humorous theatrical form of theatre performed by professional players who traveled in troupes throughout Italy in the 16th century. Companies were formed by families and performances took place on temporary stages mainly in city marketplaces but sometimes even in court venues.
Audience: The audience in Commedia was very close to the players. They laughed at a lot of the gags and familiar characters portrayed in the scenes.
Script structure: Most scripts were never written down because the troupes were always on the move. The structures are fluid and often based on simple ideas. At that time people were very conscious of class structure and so there are often depictions of servants and masters in Commedia scenes. Everyone found it very funny if the servants played a joke on their masters. Over time players became experts in performing a particular character and developed a lazzi. Lazzi were special rehearsed routines that could be inserted into the plays at convenient points to heighten the comedy.
Acting style: The acting style of Commedia is very and fast paced with exaggerated physical movement. Often characters ran and danced through the action. Some of the clowns could juggle as well.
Actors’ External Appearances: Actors played the same characters and wore clown-like costumes. They often wore masks or half masks. While the inamoratos (lovers) and the female characters wore neither masks nor costumes unique to that person, certain information could still be derived from their clothing. Except for the inamoratos, males would identify themselves with character-specific costumes and half masks.
Stock Characters: Arlecchino, Panalone, Columbina, Pedrolino, Il Doctore etc.
These stock characters can be seen in many contemporary films and shows, such as the TV comedy Three’s Company: Jack is Arlechino, Mr. Furley is landlord Pantalone, and the two girls Chrissy and Janet are like Columbina; Chrissy is the amorati.
Characters Included in this Lesson
Arlecchino is a servant with high energy and he loves to play jokes on his master. He usually needs money and does not think very far ahead. He cannot read but pretends he can. He carries two sticks hinged together, which makes a great noise on impact. This gave birth to the word slapstick.
Movement: He is in a continuously lowered position at the top of his torso, caused by carrying heavy loads. His walk shows alacrity as he dances lightly through the scenario. His arms circle around as if in an imaginary cloak. He moves like a cat or fox.
Speech: His speech is guttural and continuous or goes completely silent.
Costume and Mask: He wears a tight fitting long jacket covered in brightly coloured patches of green, yellow, red and brown. The jacket is laced down the front and caught by a black belt worn at the hips. He wears a black beret or felt hat with a narrow brim and flat back shoes.
His mask is sometimes a black stocking wound around the lower face or a rounded face with a low forehead, small round eyes and a wart.
Pantalone is a caricature of the Venetian merchant, rich and retired, mean and miserly, with a young wife or an adventurous daughter. He is usually old and sick wealthy but greedy and loves to count his money.
Movement: Pantalone walks in small steps and upon hearing bad news usually falls flat on his back like a helpless beetle that cannot right itself. He is old in his body, but his hands flutter a lot. He cannot usually keep his hands to himself. He moves like a chicken or turkey.
Speech: A high-pitched chicken squawk.
Costume: Tight- fitting trousers or red breeches and stockings a short tight fitting jacket, a loose long black cloak with plain sleeves, red woollen skullcap and yellow Turkish slippers.
Mask: His mask has a long hooked nose with bushy eyebrows, sometimes he has a moustache and his pointed beard juts forward.
Columbina is a perky, good hearted, friendly and energetic person and is not afraid to speak her mind. She often helps Arlecchino with his mischief because she enjoys the fun of it.
She usually has a sensible and benevolent influence on the plot. She is the most rational character in the Commedia.
Movement: She moves quickly and often has her hands on her hips holding her apron. When excited she throws her hands up as if dancing with a tambourine. She flirts with the audience. She is like a bird -- a dove.
Costume: Mob cap and apron. Her skirts are full with lots of petticoats falling just below the knee and her bodice is low cut. She wears lots of eye makeup instead of a mask.
Speech: Her speech is sharp and gossipy. She speaks with a variety of voice pitches.