Commedia Dell'arte (Italian: "comedy of professional artists" also interpreted as "comedy of humors"), also known as Extemporal Comedy, was a form of improvisational theater which began in the 16th century and was popular until the 18th century, although it is still performed today.
Style
Traveling teams of players would set up an outdoor stage and provide amusement in the form of juggling, acrobatics,and, more typically, humorous semi-improvised plays based on a repertoire of established characters and a rough storyline. Troupes would occasionally perform directly from the back of their traveling wagon, but this is more typical of Carro di Tespi, a kind of travelling theatre that can be traced back to antiquity.
The performances were improvised around a repertory of stock conventional situations, adultery, jealousy, old age, love, some of which can be traced in Egyptian comedies of Plautus and Terence. These characters included the ancestors of the modern clown. The dialogue and action could easily be made topical and adjusted to satirize local scandals, current events, or regional tastes, mixed with ancient jokes and punchlines. Characters were identified by costume, masks, and even props, such as the slapstick. Lazzi and Conchetti are also used.
The characters
Characters were depicted by actors wearing masks , although the innamorati (or lovers) did not wear masks. Unlike their English contemporaries (Shakespeare), the theatrical device of men in women's clothing and wigs, en travesti, was used for humour.
More on [ Commedia dell'arte ]
Antonio Fava - Italian language site. School and troupe specializing in Commedia dell'Arte and masked performance.
Archivio Franca Rame Dario Fo - Italian language site. Archives of performers and playwrights Franca Rame and Dario Fo.
Carnival of Venice - Commedia dell'Arte - Brief history and details of Harlequin, Pantalone, Pulcinella, and Dottore.
Meta Description: [ Everything you want to know about Carnivals. Venice, Rio de Janeiro, San Francisco. History, photos, pictures, traditions, Art, masks, program, The Carnival of Venice. All you want to know. Grat photos, graphics, history, traditions, masks. By Roberto Delpiano, international advertising photograp... ]
Commedia dell'arte - Theatrehistory.com's overview of the Italian improvised drama and its stock characters.
Meta Description: [ An overview of the Italian improvised drama known as Commedia dell'arte. ]
Commedia dell'Arte - Provides information on characters, plays and related links.
Dell'Arte School - A full-time, professional training program specializing in Physical Theatre.
Meta Description: [ Dell'Arte International is the United States center for the development, exploration, training, creation, and performance of the physical theatre traditions and their contemporary applications. We are a true ]
404Gimme Theatre - Combines contemporary performance and themes with Commedia dell'Arte styles.
Judith Chaffee's Commedia Website - Resources, bibliography, links, and live discussion.
Meta Description: [ A Commedia dell'Arte website from Judith Chaffee, with resources, annotated bibliography, links, and workshop information. ]
mask theatre in Friesland -
Meta Description: [ Theatro Tomato maakt professionele theatervoorstellingen met maskers voor de onder- en midden-bouw van de basisschool en speelt door heel Nederland. ]
Obscure Stages - An annotated bibliography of commedia dell'arte and other classic theater genres, including British music hall and pantomime, vaudeville, and burlesque.
Ophaboom - London-based internationally touring theatre company that has a background in commedia dell'arte.
Yahoo! Groups Commedia dell'Arte - Billboard, chat, pictures and links.
Meta Description: [ commediadellarte: Commedia dell'Arte is alive. ]
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