Commedia

DellArte

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF
COMMEDIA DELLARTE
Began in Italy around 1545
Means comedy of artists
Performed in markets and
carnivals
Actors wore masks; the bigger
the nose, the dumber the
character being played.

COMMEDIA DELLARTE
Seldom used scripts
Used detailed scenarios
and improvised dialogue
700 scenarios survive
today.
Setting is usually a street
because they were usually
performed outdoors

STOCK
CHARACTERS

Stock Characters: a
character who displays the
same character traits in
many different productions.
The following slides go through
the different groups of stock
characters found in Commedia.

THE VECCHIO
The old men
The annoying, strict adults.
They often are uptight and made fun of.
They stop the young people from getting together.

PANTALONE
Middle age and
really likes money.
Usually a powerful
character.
(a father/boss/etc.)

DOTTORE
Rich and a little dumb.
Usually a doctor or some
other type of important job.
The sidekick of the
pantalone.

CAPITANO
Thinks hes important and
a ladies man (but hes
not).
Brags a lot.
A worker. Not rich.

ZANNI
The servants
They get the young people together.

HARLEQUIN
Servant
Very clever or very
clumsy
Plays around, pulls
pranks, and does a
lot of acrobatics.

FONTESCA/COLUM
BINA

Clever and Flirty

Shes the maid

and helper to the
young lady of the
show.
Ballet like.

YOUNG LOVERS
Rich, nicely dressed
Over dramatic young people
in love.
Spoke in ridiculous love
poems.