Commedia dell'arte Research Investigation

 ("Theatre Room Asia." Theatre Room Asia. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2014.)

WHAT IS "COMMEDIA DELL'ARTE"?

• This colorful and extremely theatrical art form is based on the interaction of traditional stock characters in improvised scenarios that facilitate a comic plot to arrive at a humorous climax. Commedia dell'arte (comedy of artists) originated in streets and market places of the early Italian Renaissance, although it's roots can be traced as far back as far as Ancient Greek and Roman Theatre. These Italian street performers, donning masks with exaggerated comic features to draw additional attention to themselves and complement their physical and acrobatic skills, eventually teamed up in troupes of actors often with a traveling stages to firmly establish commedia as a genre in it's own right by the mid-1500's.                                                                                                 ("Brief History on Commedia Dell'arte." The Commedia Dell'arte. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2014.)

• The common characters were Arlechino, Capitano, Columbina, Comico, Dottore, Flavio, The Innamorati (The Lovers), Isabella, Lelio, Pantalone, Pedrolino, Pulcenella, Vittoria and Zani.      ("Brief History on Commedia Dell'arte." The Commedia Dell'arte. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2014.)

• The commedia dell'arte shows were mainly started on the streets of Italy during the Renaissance and later caught the attention of crowds and were performed in theatres. ("Brief History on Commedia Dell'arte." The Commedia Dell'arte. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2014.)

• The commedia dell'arte is improvised and has very edgy plots and also uses vulgar language or gestures on stage sometimes. The unexpected improvised plot twists and great humor is what keeps the audience on edge. They also wear several different masks that represent different characters. The characters all spoke in different languages and some even spoke utter gibberish! But the whole point of commedia was based on the physicality, they also danced sometimes to music. ("Brief History on Commedia Dell'arte." The Commedia Dell'arte. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2014.)

• Masks are worn for commedia and the characters also have colorful rennaissance type costumes that show off their personality. ("Theatre Room Asia." Theatre Room Asia. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2014.)

• Commedia is also used today in movies and plays all around the world. It has infuenced pantomime widely and the concept of improvisation and the english harlinquade. ("Brief History on Commedia Dell'arte." The Commedia Dell'arte. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2014.)

• Commedia still lives on in television and some theatre companies still take it to countries far and wide! ("Brief History on Commedia Dell'arte." The Commedia Dell'arte. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2014.)
•                             ("Theatre Room Asia." Theatre Room Asia. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2014.)