Commedia Dell’Arte

Commedia Dell’Arte

Using ‘Stock Characters’

Yesterday’s LessonUsing ‘tension states’ is a method of getting

into character that allows the actor to recall and explore different levels of emotionsWe demonstrated using different tension states by improvising a mime about friends going to a shopping centre.

• Some tension states we explored were1. Exhausted2. Laidback3. Neutral 4. Alert5. Suspense 6. Passionate7. Tragic

Yesterday’s LessonWe also explored in the last part of the lesson

‘Centres of leading’.Centres of leading is the part of the body that appears to lead gestures, such as the chest as a leading centre for a brave character.

Some Centres of leading we explored wereLeading with your nose Leading with your shoulders and chestLeading with your knees

Commedia Dell’Arte

Artist’s Comedy

A form of theatre developed in late-Renaissance Italy, Commedia Dell'Arte ("artists' comedy") relied on a group of stock characters, whose roles, characteristics, and costumes were well-defined and widely known. It is a form of improvisational comedy

A stock character is a character who is instantly recognizable to us from other stories; the grumpy grandpa, the snooty cheerleader, the bratty younger sibling

Commedia Dell'Arte originated in streets and market places of Italy, although it's roots can be traced as far back as far as Ancient Greek and Roman Theatre.

These Italian street performers, donning masks with exaggerated comic features to draw additional attention to themselves and complement their physical and acrobatic skills, eventually teamed up in troupes of actors often with a travelling .

Commedia Dell’Arte Characters

Pantalone His name means something like “Mr. Big Pants.” A wealthy, miserly old man

Mask: a hooked nose, wrinkled face, bushy eyebrows.

Il Dottore“The Doctor,” a smug, know-it-all professor, who reallyknows nothing.

Mask: a round, stubby nose like a pig, chubby cheeks, bushy eyebrows or a moustache.

Il Capitano“The Captain,” a boasting, bragging macho soldier, who is actually a coward underneath.

Mask: a long nose, wide eyes, sometimes an exaggerated handle bar moustache

Arlecchino“Harlequin,” the nimble, acrobatic, tricky servant. Childlike, sometimes not too bright, but usually wins out in the end.

Mask: a sly, cat-like face, with a short nose

Brighella His name means something like “Brawler” (“Knuckles "or “Bruiser” – someone ready for a fight). The tough-guy servant, a good liar, always out for himself

Mask: A green half-mask with a greedy expression

Columbina“Little dove.” The wise-cracking maid, usually the smartest character. Flirtatious and playful

Mask: sometimes masked (with a small half-mask), sometimes not

Gli InnamoratiThe lovers were Fabio for the boy, Isabella for the girl They were Young, graceful and attractive, they wore fashionable clothes and no masks. They could be slightly vain and not always bright – in love with themselves a bit too much – but they were sincere.

Commedia Stock Characters used in today’s comedies!

Futurama• Arlecchino: Fry • Colombina: Leela • Brighella: Bender • Pantalone:

Professor Farnsworth

• Il Dottore: Dr. Zoidberg

• Il Capitano: Zap Branigan

• Innamorati: Amy and Kif

The Simpsons

Pantalone: the old miser, thin, miserable, evil - Mr Burns

Il Dottore: has a position of authority, thinks he knows it all, but is in fact quite stupid and gluttonous - Chief Wiggum

Arlecchino: Mischievous, impish fool. Of a low intelligence, except when it comes to pranking figures of authority – Bart

Columbina :The intelligent, beautiful and wily female servant. The one who sorts out the problems. Can be mischievous herself – Lisa

Isabella: A slightly older, female figure of authority who is in charge, often sorts out problems and often lusted after by the male characters - Marge