Commedia dell'Arte (Italian: "play of professional artists") is a form of improvisational theatre that began in Italy in the 16th century and held its popularity through the 18th century, although it is still performed today. Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. Improvisational theatre (also known as improv or impro) is a form of Theatre in which the Actors use Improvisational acting techniques Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system ^[1] Performances were unscripted, held outside, and used few props. They were free to watch, funded by donations. A troupe consisted of ten people: eight men and two women. Outside Italy the form was also known as "Italian Comedy".

Commedia dell'Arte performances followed a repertory of conventional plot lines written on themes of adultery, jealousy, old age, and love. Adultery is the voluntary Sexual intercourse between a married person and another person who is not his or her Spouse, though in many places it is Love is any of a number of Emotions and experiences related to a sense of strong Affection. Many of the basic plot elements can be traced back to the Roman comedies of Plautus and Terence, some of which were themselves translations of lost Greek comedies of the fourth century BC. Titus Maccius Plautus (c 254–184 BCE commonly known as Plautus, was a Roman Playwright. Publius Terentius Afer (195/185&ndash159 BC better known as Terence, was a Playwright of the Roman Republic. Performers made use of well-rehearsed jokes and stock physical gags, known as Lazzi and Concetti, as well as, of course, on-the-spot improvised routines. Lazzi (from the Italian lazzo, a joke or witticism is a piece of well-rehearsed comic action commonly used in the Commedia dell'arte. Since the productions were improvised, dialogue and action could easily be changed to satirize local scandals, current events, or regional tastes, while still using old jokes and punch lines. Satire is often strictly defined as a literary genre or form; although in practice it is also found in the graphic and Performing arts In satire human Characters were identified by costumes, masks, and even props, such as a type of baton known as a slapstick. The term costume can refer to Wardrobe and dress in general or to the distinctive style of dress of a particular people class or period A mask is an artefact normally worn on the face typically for protection concealment performance or amusement A theatrical property, commonly referred to as a prop, is any object held or used on stage by an Actor for use in furthering the plot or story line of a Theatrical Slapstick is a type of Comedy involving exaggerated physical violence or activities which exceed the boundaries of common sense such as a character being hit in the face with These characters included the forebears of the modern clown, namely Harlequin (English for arlecchino) and Zanni. Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by their Grotesque appearance colored wigs stylistic makeup, outlandish Costumes unusually Harlequin ( Arlecchino in Italian, Arlequin in French) is the most popular of the Zanni or comic servant characters from Zanni (from the Italian dialectal nickname for Giovanni can refer to either the archetype comic servant of the Commedia dell'arte or various

The classic, traditional plot is that the innamorati are in love and wish to be married, but one elder (vecchio) or several elders (vecchi) are stopping this from happening, leading the lovers to ask one or more zanni (eccentric servants) for help. The Innamorati is from the Italian Language and means he or she who is in love Vecchio (plural vecchi) A category of aged male characters from the Italian Commedia dell'Arte. Zanni (from the Italian dialectal nickname for Giovanni can refer to either the archetype comic servant of the Commedia dell'arte or various Typically the story ends happily, with the marriage of the innamorati and forgiveness for any wrongdoings. There are countless variations on this story, as well as many that diverge wholly from the structure, such as a well-known story about Arlecchino becoming mysteriously pregnant, or the Punch and Judy scenario. Commedia dell'Arte ( Italian: "the comedy of artists" is a form of Improvisational theatre that began in Italy in the 16th century Punch and Judy is a traditional popular English Puppet show featuring the characters of Punch and his wife Judy

Karel Dujardins set his closely-observed scene of a traveling troupe's makeshift stage against idealized ruins in the Roman Campagna: dated 1657 (Louvre Museum)

The Characters

• Arlecchino - also known as Harlequin. The Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre located in Paris is the world's most visited art museum a historic monument and a national museum of France Commedia dell'Arte ( Italian: "the comedy of artists" is a form of Improvisational theatre that began in Italy in the 16th century Harlequin ( Arlecchino in Italian, Arlequin in French) is the most popular of the Zanni or comic servant characters from Arlecchino is a clown. Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by their Grotesque appearance colored wigs stylistic makeup, outlandish Costumes unusually Typically acrobatic and mischievous, he is one of the zanni. He is a servant, and is recognizable by the colorful diamond-shaped patches that traditionally were part of his costume. The part is sometimes substituted with Truffaldino, his son. However, Arlecchino is never the loser. His mask has a low forehead with a wart, and sometimes wore a black stocking wound round the lower face and then up over the head. Arlecchino is often the servant to Pantalone, or sometimes to Il Dottore. Pantalone (French Pantalon) is a stock character that is classified as one of the vecchi (old men in Commedia dell'arte. Il Dottore or the Doctor (usually called Dottore Balanzone Dottore Baloardo or Dottore Graziano is a Commedia dell'arte Stock character, one He is in love with Colombina, but she only makes fun of him. For the Dove Genus, see Columbina (genus. Columbina (in Italian, Colombina, "little Dove He can often have a close relationship with the audience, involving them in the action or gesturing to them.

• Il Capitano - swash-buckling and bold, but not necessarily heroic. Il Capitano (the Captain is a masked character from the Commedia dell'Arte. Il Capitano generally wears the military dress of the period he is acting. His attire is generally foppish and overdone. Il Capitano is usually played as a braggart, a ladies-man, and a cavalier.

• Colombina - developed out of Arlecchino, she is his female counterpart. For the Dove Genus, see Columbina (genus. Columbina (in Italian, Colombina, "little Dove Usually portrayed as clever, crafty, and untamed. She is also a servant and a member of the zanni, and quite often she compels the action. She sometimes is played wearing colored patches in Arlecchino's style.

• Il Dottore - the doctor. Il Dottore or the Doctor (usually called Dottore Balanzone Dottore Baloardo or Dottore Graziano is a Commedia dell'arte Stock character, one Seen as the learned man, but generally that impression is false. He is older, wealthy, and a member of the vecchi. Often played as pedantic, miserly, and hopelessly unsuccessful with women.

• The Innamorati are the lovers. The Innamorati is from the Italian Language and means he or she who is in love The innamorato and innamorata had many different names over time ("Isabella" was a particularly popular name for the woman, as was "Flavio" for the man). They are young, righteous, and helplessly in love with one another. They wear the most fashionable dress of the period they are acting, and never play in mask. Often seen singing, dancing, or reciting poetry. They are usually played as the children of Dottore and Pantalone depending on the situation they are in. They are madly in love but never seem able to get together.

• Pantalone - a member of the vecchi. Pantalone (French Pantalon) is a stock character that is classified as one of the vecchi (old men in Commedia dell'arte. Usually quite wealthy, but very greedy. He is the archetypal "old miser. " He cares about nothing so much as money, and will do anything in order to get it. His costume includes red pants, and often a long beard.

• Pedrolino - the loyal servant, also known as "Pierrot" or "Pedro. Pedrolino is a Zanni, or servant character in the Commedia dell'arte. " He is hard, trustworthy, honest, and in every way devoted to his master. He is also charming and likable, and is portrayed wearing a loose white outfit with a neck ruff.

• Pulcinella - sometimes called "Punch," he is portrayed as pitiable, helpless, and often physically disfigured. Pulcinella, often called Punch or Punchinello in English Polichinelle in French is a classical character that originated He usually has a hump, a distinct limp, or some other obvious physical deformity. In some portrayals he cannot speak, and expresses himself in squeaks or other strange sounds. His personality can be foolish or sly and shrewd.

• Scaramuccia - also known as Scaramouche, he is a roguish character who wears a black velvet mask and black trousers, shirt and hat. Scaramuccia, also known as Scaramouche, is a roguish clown character who wears a black mask and black trousers shirt and hat He is usually portrayed as a buffoon or boastful coward.

• Tartaglia - short sighted and with a terrible stutter, he is usually classed as one of the group of old characters who appears in many scenarios as one of the lovers. Niccolò Fontana Tartaglia (1499/1500 Brescia, Italy &ndash December 13, 1557, Venice, Italy was a Mathematician His social status varies; he is sometimes a bailiff, lawyer, notary or chemist. Dramatist Carlo Gozzi turned him into a statesman, and so he remained thereafter. Carlo Count Gozzi ( 13 December 1720 &ndash April 4, 1806) was an Italian Dramatist. Tartaglia wears a large felt hat, an enormous cloak, oversized boots, a long sword, a giant mustache and a cardboard nose.

References

1. ^ See the Commedia timeline.

Further reading

• Commedia Dell'arte: An Actor's Handbook by John Rudlin
• Playing Commedia and Commedia Plays by Barry Grantham
• The Comic Mask and the Commedia dell'Arte by Antonio Fava
• The Innamorati by Midori Snyder is a novel with the commedia as its central conceit.
• One version of The Love Of Three Oranges is subtitled "A Play for the Theater That Takes the Commedia Dell'Arte of Carlo Gozzi and Updates it for the New Millennium". The authors are Carlo Gozzi and Hillary DePiano. Carlo Count Gozzi ( 13 December 1720 &ndash April 4, 1806) was an Italian Dramatist.
• Flamino Scala's Il Teatro delle Favole Rappresentative, translated into English by Henry F. Salerno as Scenarios of the Commedia dell'Arte.
• The Commedia dell'Arte by Kenneth Richards and Laura Richards is an overview of Commedia dell'Arte. The Te Rata Bridge was a suspension bridge across the Retaruke River in the King Country, New Zealand. Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards ( February 27, 1850 - January 14, 1943) was born in Boston Massachusetts, to a high-profile family It provides many original documents in translation including scenarios, lazzi and descriptions of characters, players and companies by contemporaries.
• Martin Green and John Swan's The Triumph of Pierrot: The Commedia Dell'Arte and the Modern Imagination discusses interpretations and adaptations of Commedia dell'Arte in 20th century literature, music, art, and film.
• An annotated bibliography from Judith Chaffee.
• Commedia dell'Arte: A Handbook for Troupes by Olly Crick and John Rudlin
• Screener for Commedia by Fava

Education Programs

• 'Cafe Floriani' a Commedia del'Arte high school touring production currently performing in Australia. View online videos.
• Rubber Latex Commedia del'arte masks as a teaching tool for Drama teachers.