LA COMMEDIA. [29], Commedia dell'arte has four stock character groups:[13]. Bean: Dolly. Additionally, each character has a singular costume and mask that is representative of the character's role. [1] She was one of the most famous Italian actors of the period and known as the Divine Vittoria Piisimi. [7] Many troupes were formed to perform commedia, including I Gelosi (which had actors such as Andreini and her husband Francesco Andreini),[14] Confidenti Troupe, Desioi Troupe, and Fedeli Troupe. By the mid-16th century, specific troupes of commedia performers began to coalesce, and by 1568 the Gelosi became a distinct company. 1595), was an Italian actress, singer, dancer, theatre director and musician. Vittoria is one of Commedia's female lovers--but unlike Isabella, she tends to meet the"Diamond in the Rough" trope. Song and dance were widely used, and a number of innamorati were skilled madrigalists, a song form that uses chromatics and close harmonies. Goldoni borrowed from the older style to create a new, more realistic form of Italian comedy, and audiences greeted the new comedy with enthusiasm. As time went on, the actors stopped altering the characters, so that the roles became frozen and no longer reflected the conditions of real life, thus losing an important comic element. These compagnie travelled throughout Europe from the early period, beginning with the Soldati, then, the Ganassa, who travelled to Spain,[32] and were famous for playing the guitar and singingnever to be heard from againand the famous troupes of the Golden Age (15801605): Gelosi, Confidenti, Accessi. [citation needed] Tivoli has regular performances, while Bakken has daily performances for children by Pierrot and a puppet version of Pulcinella resembling Punch and Judy. Notably, his is the only mask without cheeks -- the reason being actors would rouge their cheeks to show Il Dottore's regular drunkeness. Archetype: Pantalone It has very clear, simple and humorous plot lines, usually related to the themes of love, money or food. 7 chapters | The earliest works to feature characters that strongly resemble those from commedia dell'arte appeared in the early 16th century, like Machiavelli's La Mandragola (1518). Pulcinella developed into the English character of Punch, as in Punch and Judy.
Arlecchino, often known in English as Harlequin, is a servant whose primary interest is food. In England, elements from it were naturalized in the harlequinade in pantomime and in the Punch-and-Judy show, a puppet play involving the commedia dellarte character Punch. He sometimes has a tear painted on one cheek, giving him a very similar appearance to some contemporary images of clowns. . It was taken from England to Copenhagen (1801), where, at the Tivoli Gardens, it still survives. The Flaminio Scala scenarios, published in the early 17th century, are the most widely known collection and representative of its most esteemed compagnia, I Gelosi. In fact, it was considered part of the innamorati function to be able to sing and have the popular repertoire under their belt. Visiting commedia dellarte troupes inspired national comedic drama in Germany, eastern Europe, and Spain. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. [38], According to 18th-century London theatre critic Baretti, commedia dell'arte incorporates specific roles and characters that were "originally intended as a kind of characteristic representative of some particular Italian district or town." Giacomo Oreglia (2002). While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Typically, he would wear a tight-fitting jacket with a matching pair of trousers. In 1579-1581, she was the leader of her own theatre company. His mask is brown or black, with a beaked nose, and is decorated with wrinkles, warts, or other deformities.
What You Need to Know About Commedia Dell'Arte - ThoughtCo The characters of Isabella, Lelio, Flavio and Vittoria, among many more are all part of the Innamorati. The expressive theatre influenced Molire's comedy and subsequently ballet d'action, thus lending a fresh range of expression and choreographic means. This and all interview clips on this page created for Piccolo Theatre. The following list is not exhaustive but does cover the most important and famous Zanni in the Commedia canon. Tristano Martinelli achieved international fame as the first of the great Arlecchinos, and was honoured by the Medici and the Queen of France. Characters were identified by costumes, masks, and props, such as a type of baton known as a slapstick. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com.
Commedia Dellarte | Encyclopedia.com Pantalone represents the love of money. Sometimes called Arlechinno, Harlequin is one of the most instantly recognizable characters from commedia dell'arte. He is an associate of Pantalone's, and usually holds some position of learning (a judge, professor, lawyer, physician, etc.). As the richest man in town, he holds a position of power and status in any scenario, with the plot usually revolving around Pantalone standing in the way of two young lovers being together (either because he prefers selling his daughter to someone else, or because he's creepily interested in the female lover himself). Several of these actresses, such as Isabella Andreini, Vittoria Piissimi and Vincenza Armani, were also talented singers . Commedia dell'arte is a term that came into use after the Renaissance to describe a type of theatrical entertainment that began in Italy in the mid-1500s.It was best known for its improvised, or unscripted, performances. 2016 by John Michael Sefel,in service to the Ohio State University Theatre Department. The comic operas of Gaetano Donizetti, such as Elisir d'amore, draw readily upon commedia stock types. His appetite (primarily for food, but also for drink and ladies) often leads him into mischief, though he doesn't have a single mean or cruel bone in his body. The first date certainly associated with an Italian commedia dellarte troupe is 1545. The use of original materials from this work for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited. Pulcinella is sometimes called the Southern Arlecchino because of his similarities to the Harlequin character. Their character was played with a malicious wit or gossipy gaiety. [45], Il Dottore's costume was a play on the academic dress of the Bolognese scholars.
Commedia dell'arte - Wikipedia The jacket became shorter and his hat changed from a soft cap to a double pointed hat. He's a trickster, a bit devilish, known for causing mayhem. These Roman comedies became quite popular in France, Germany, and England as well. Soubrette characters like Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Zerlina in Don Giovanni and Despina in Cos fan tutte recall Columbina and related characters. [6] Characterized by masked "types", commedia was responsible for the rise of actresses such as Isabella Andreini[7] and improvised performances based on sketches or scenarios. Often portrayed as either in a domino or with no mask, she has the beauty of the lovers (if often a bit more voluptuous), the freedom of movement of the servants, and intelligence which outshines any of the classes. Shakespeare's The Tempest is drawn from a popular scenario in the Scala collection, his Polonius (Hamlet) is drawn from Pantalone, and his clowns bear homage to the zanni. The lovers, Innamorati, would wear what was considered to be the fashion of the time period. [16] Some date the origins to the period of the Roman Republic (Plautine types) or the Empire (Atellan Farces). While these are often reproduced in large formats, it is important to note that the actual prints measured about 23 inches. Influences appear in the lodgers in Steven Berkoff's adaptation of Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis. [47] Picasso also designed the original costumes for Stravinsky's Pulcinella (1920), a ballet depicting commedia characters and situations. Omissions? Use tab to navigate through the menu items. The Callot etchings of the Balli di Sfessania (1611) are most widely considered capricci rather than actual depictions of a commedia dance form, or typical masks. Today, the most famous element of Commedia performance is its highly recognizable characters.
La Commedia dell'Arte - Innamorati - Google Commedia dell'arte actors viewed their bodies as machines; because their own faces were obscured by character masks and therefore stuck in essentially one expression, they had to rely on the rest of .
La Commedia dell'Arte - Plays and Scenari - Google [12], The characters of the commedia usually represent fixed social types and stock characters, such as foolish old men, devious servants, or military officers full of false bravado. The amorosi are often children of a male character in the masters group, but not of any female character in the masters group, which may represent younger women who have e.g. Some were doctors, others priests, others soldiers, enticed by the excitement and prevalence of theatre in Italian society. She and Isabella Andreini were the two most famed actresses of the era, and described as great rivals. Il Capitano brags of grand achievements as a lover and military captain, but it's probably all talk.
Fantaisie's Fools: an exploration of Commedia dell'Arte [26] In the 1570s, English theatre critics generally denigrated the troupes with their female actors (some decades later, Ben Jonson referred to one female performer of the commedia as a "tumbling whore"). The method has been used for different purposes in theatrical history. Its stock characters and their costumes have developed over time. Women, who usually played servants or lovers, wore less stylized costumes than the men in commedia. Its influence on other comedic genres can still be felt today. Commedia dell'arte emerged around the middle of the 16th century as the first professional theater form. Commedia Dell'Arte, sometimes known simply as Commedia, was a type of theatrical performance that was popular in Italy and other parts of Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries. See notes on the"Commedia" history/style page about the importance of his costume! The company, first mentioned in 1568, was the first Commedia to tour outside Italy when it performed in Paris in 1571, and was described as the foremost commedia dellarte troupe. These characters tended to be stereotypes, with most of them embodying a single primary trait. Arlecchino (Harlequin), one of the zanni, was created by Tristano Martinelli as the witty servant, nimble and gay; as a lover, he became capricious, often heartless. Italian commedia dell'arte companies appeared in France from the 16th century and pleased both the courtiers, who understood Italian, and the populace, which enjoyed the . One part Kardashian, one part Taylor Swift, and a heaping helping of Cher from "Clueless. Moliere made great use of the Columbina archetype in his maids (see especially Dorine in Tartuffe), though she also often pops up in "funny-but-wise best friend" positions in various contemporary romantic comedies. [45] He wore a long black gown or jacket that went below the knees. Trasseci l'ombra del primo parente, d'Abl suo figlio e quella di No, di Mos legista e ubidente; Abram patrarca e Davd re, Isral con lo padre e co' suoi nati e con Rachele, per cui tanto f, e altri molti, e feceli beati. - Terms, Time Periods and Styles, Elements of Drama: Characters, Plot, Setting & Symbolism, History of Drama: Dramatic Movements and Time Periods, What Is Musical Theater? Stock characters and situations also appear in ballet. We've all heard of theater improv or improv art, well welcome to the 17th century's form of improv, commedia dell'arte. Each character in commedia dell'arte has a distinct costume that helps the audience understand who the character is. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Pulcinella, like Capitano, outgrew his mask and became a character in his own right, probably created by Silvio Fiorillo (died c. 1632), who had earlier created a famous Capitano, Mattamoros. [8][13] The characters are exaggerated "real characters", such as a know-it-all doctor called Il Dottore, a greedy old man called Pantalone, or a perfect relationship like the Innamorati. Archetype: Arlecchino/Harlequin Commedia dell'arte is an influential form of comic theater typified by stock characters in improvised performances centered on scenarios like romantic interests, greed, and ambition. Not all scenari were comic, there were some mixed forms and even tragedies. She is often portrayed as adoring Arlecchino while simultaneously being aware of his unreliability and childishness. Commedia Dell'Arte, sometimes known simply as Commedia, was a type of theatrical performance that was popular in Italy and other parts of Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries. Doltish yet honest, he was often the victim of his fellow comedians pranks. This chapter examines the lives and careers of some of the first commedia dell'arte actresses, who worked in Italy and toured to other European countries, such as France, Spain and England, from the mid-sixteenth century until the first decades of the seventeenth century. The Art of Commedia: A Study in the Commedia Dell'Arte 1560-1620 with special reference to the visual records, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vittoria_Piisimi&oldid=1106412202, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 24 August 2022, at 13:24. Fun fact: the trousers associated with the character Pantalone became known as ''pantaloons'' due to his popularity, later shortened to just ''pants''. This nomadic nature, though influenced by persecution, was also largely due in part to the troupes requiring new (and paying) audiences. [46], 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 preventing this from happening, leading the lovers to ask one or more zanni (eccentric servants) for help. [44][45] Usually, there was a bat and a wallet that would hang from his belt. Updates? In commedia, each character embodies a mood: mockery, sadness, gaiety, confusion, and so forth. Bean: "Charlie the Duck". Learn the definition of commedia dell'arte, explore its history, and discover the commedia dell'arte characters and costumes. These characters are. Bean: Francis. Archetype: Brighella Sasha Blakeley has a Bachelor's in English Literature from McGill University and a TEFL certification. Pantalone was a Venetian merchant: serious, rarely consciously comic, and prone to long tirades and good advice. It was the actors who gave the commedia dellarte its impulse and character, relying on their wits and capacity to create atmosphere and convey character with little scenery or costume. Zanni is probably not the first character that springs to mind when you think of Commedia dell'Arte characters. With Harlequin she became a primary character in the English pantomimes harlequinade. Some scholars have claimed she's more in love with the idea of being in love than actually having any true feelings for another, though I would argue this is a matter of actor and production interpretation. Some of the works are available elsewhere or are in the public domain; others are original pieces that -- as far as we know -- are only available on this site. Curiously, commedia dell'arte was equally if not more popular in France, where it continued its popularity throughout the 17th century (until 1697), and it was in France that commedia developed its established repertoire. Most of the time, however, he seems to simply enjoy fleecing others and feeling superior to all. Christian singing "Your Song" in Moulin Rouge, Archetype: Silvio/Flavio/etc. However since there are so many more Commedia dell'arte characters that are part of this same class that are not fully developed by Commedia dell'Carte, we gave them their own "catch all" page to include research on this vital class of . Ogni suo tentativo di uccidersi, per, viene sventato o mandato a monte dalle intromissioni dei suoi nuovi vicini, esuberanti e chiassosi, con cui poco per volta finisce per fare amicizia. He has a powdered face but no mask and he is usually costumed in loose-fitting white clothing. The iconography of the commedia dell'arte represents an entire field of study that has been examined by commedia scholars such as Erenstein, Castagno, Katritzky, Molinari, and others. Janus symbolized both the comings and goings of this travelling troupe and the dual nature of the actor who impersonates the "other." Music and dance were central to commedia dell'arte performance, and most performances had both instrumental and vocal music in them.
Greco - COMPLETO E RIASSUNTIVO - LA COMMEDIA La cosa pi interessante Companies would also find themselves summoned by high-ranking officials, who would offer patronage in return for performing in their land for a certain amount of time. [45], Il Capitano's costume is similar to Il Dottore's in the fact that it is also a satire on military wear of the time. & production shots! [citation needed]. A more important, if less obvious, legacy of the commedia dellarte is its influence on other dramatic forms. Accounts of the early commedia, as far back as Calmo in the 1570s and the buffoni of Venice, note the ability of comici to sing madrigali precisely and beautifully. Some characters in commedia dell'arte are more successful. She then returned to the Gelosi. Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Commedia Dell'Arte Characters and Costumes, Writing a Play: Script Format, Steps & Tips, What is Drama? The Gelosi performed in Northern Italy and France where they received protection and patronage from the King of France. Bean: Pauline, Isabella is one of Commedia's female lovers--known for her beauty, her charm, and especially her expensive tastes. Other national dramatic forms absorbed the comic routines and plot devices of the commedia. However, each troupe had its impresse (like a coat of arms) which symbolized its nature. Create an account to start this course today. Take a comicalEbenezer Scrooge and occassionally add a dash of Family Guy's Herbert, and you'vegot Pantalone.