Comedia del'Arte

Question 1

What is Commedia dell’Arte?

Answer 1

A form of comedy popular in the Renaissance.

Question 2

What was three very thing introduced by Commedia dell’Arte?

Answer 2

Lazzi - Well rehearsed comedic physical gags
Stock characters - characters modeled after Italian stereotypes still used today.
Slapstick comedy - the idea of this very physically comedy developed from this period.

Question 3

Around what time period did Commedia dell’Arte emerge?

Answer 3

The 16th Century.

Question 4

How were the Comedia dell’Arte plays structured?

Answer 4

The actors received a plot only elaboration on a simplistic scenario around two young lovers being kept apart by their households. Aided by servants, they find their way together.

Question 5

Who was the most well-known female actress at this time and from which acting troupe did she hail?

Answer 5

Isabella Andreini hailed from il Gelosi and played the young female lovers part.

Question 6

What were the two types of Comedy developed during this period?

Answer 6

Low comedy utilising farce and slapstick humour, sterotypes and vulgar language.
High comedy utilised verbal wit:puns, ambiguity and double meanings. these pulled heavily on satarical roots.

Question 7

What is a scenario in the context of Commedia dell’Arte?

Answer 7

A scenario was a lose plot line detailing entrances and exits.

Question 8

How much did improvisaton play a role in Commedia dell’Arte?

Answer 8

Besides the scenario and a few soliloquies written, most everything else - the dialogues and everything- were improvisation.

Question 9

Give some examples of lazzi:

Answer 9

Prat falls
Heel trips
Toe trips
Slapping 
Takes
Double takes

Question 10

What were the two most well known Commedia troupes?

Answer 10

The Gelosi and the Accesi.

Question 11

List some of the body shapes used in Commedia:

Answer 11

The pin - completely upright
The wall - superhero stance
The backward ball - stomach out and back curved like its hanging over a ball
The forward ball - body curved forward over an imaginary ‘ball’
The screw - one hip jutting out

Question 12

Who/What are/is the Innamorati?

Answer 12

These are the lovers. Inamorata for the woman, Inamorati for the man. They are portrayed as wealthy, good-looking and well-educated, but tend to be naive. No masks are worn for these characters. The female character were meant to encapsulate the many facets of a woman.

Question 13

What are Masters?

Answer 13

These are the three older male characters, normally of some influence. They consists of Pantalone, Il Capitano and Il Dottore.

Question 14

Who is Pantalone?

Answer 14

One of the three masters, Pantalone is old and a miser. he’s generally the inamorata’s father, using her to get money. Hes very protective over her but wants money almost more than the want to keep her safe. His posture is the forward ball and he wears a hooked nosed mask with a pointy beard, a black fez and a cloak over red breeches and pantaloons, stockings and slippers.

Question 15

Who is Il Capitano?

Answer 15

One of the masters, he is often seen to be Spanish. He has a ridiculously long name and is sort of a coward. His stance is that of the wall. He has no sense of humour, is very arrogant and cocky as well as clumsy and a show off. His mask consists of a massive nose and impressive mustache. Well built, he wear very flashy military uniforms.

Question 16

Who is Il Dottore?

Answer 16

He is one of the masters too. he’s often either Pantalone’s friend or his rival. he’s a bit slow despite being a man of learning- a philosopher, or a doctor of law or medicine. He loves the sound of his own voice and thus just talks on and on in foreign languages and Latin and using scientific jargon. his listeners, no doubt bored, perform lazzi around his oblivious form. His mask features a piggy sort of nose and bulging red cheeks. He wears an academic cap and gown with red stockings.

Question 17

What are the servant characters?

Answer 17

The zanni are younger, more acrobatic characters who usually appear in comic duos. Most of the zanni are male, but some are woman.

Question 18

Who is Arlecchino?

Answer 18

Arlecchino is a talented acrobat and dancer hat is often the centre of attention. He’s generally roguish with a few spots of wit. He’s often starved by his Master (normally Pantalone) or beaten and thus steals food. Beautiful girls are often falling in love with him. His mask is black and half a mask whilst his costume is made up of multi-coloured patches. he carries a slapstick.

Question 19

Who is Brighella?

Answer 19

Brighella is one of the zanni and normally cruel and a bully. He thrives off of fighting and is hardly caught meaning that others get blamed. He is unscrupulous and worships money, wasting it on booze and eats. he wears wide trousers and wears an ugly mask with a hooked nose.

Question 20

Who is Pulcinella?

Answer 20

He is a greedy, unlovable zanni character. He is normally arrogant and argumentative. He’s a cruel husband and often beats his wife. he has a hunched back and large belly. His mask has a hooked nose and an upward pointing chin.

Question 21

Who is Pedrolini?

Answer 21

He is the sad clown out of the zanni. hes eploited and gullible, always crying. Woman like his gentleness but they leave him for someone more prosperous. he normally accompanies Pulcinella. He has a painted white face. His outfit is normally also white and ruffly.

Question 22

Who is Columbina?

Answer 22

She is a young and intelligent and tends to the Inamorata. She’s a wee bit fond or Arlecchino. She seldom wears a mask and is rather beautiful.

Question 23

Who is La Ruffiana?

Answer 23

She is the rough middle aged harridan. She’s vulgar, course and exploitative. She would use young girls to gain her own personal wealth She usually fancies Pantalone a bit.

Question 24

How did Commedia influence the world?

Answer 24

Quite a bit of Shakespeare’s works pull from Commedia. Many actors in the early 19th centuries in their little comedic films pulled from Commedia as well.