Some of the better known commedia dell'arte characters are Pierrot and Pierrette, Pantalone, Gianduja, Il Dottore, Brighella, Il Capitano, Colombina, the innamorati, Pedrolino, Pulcinella, Arlecchino, Sandrone, Scaramuccia (also known as Scaramouche), La Signora, and Tartaglia. Commedia dell'arte. [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. [8][10] Characters' entrances and exits are scripted. These characters are. Commedia dell'arte is a theatrical art form, which gained popularity in Italy, built around comedic situations that arise when stock characters come into conflict. [1] She was one of the most famous Italian actors of the period and known as the Divine Vittoria Piisimi. La Commedia dell'Arte nasce nell'Italia del XVI secolo ed una rottura sia rispetto al teatro medievale che a quello colto contemporaneo. Generally, the actors playing were diverse in background in terms of class and religion, and performed anywhere they could. 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. Comdie-Italienne | French theatre | Britannica - Terms, Time Periods and Styles, Elements of Drama: Characters, Plot, Setting & Symbolism, History of Drama: Dramatic Movements and Time Periods, What Is Musical Theater? Bean: Dolly. The Italian arte here translates as "profession" or "craft," distinguishing it from more amateur theatre forms such as pageants and festival plays. [7][8] Commedia was often performed outside on platforms or in popular areas such as a piazza (town square). Lucrezia Di Siena, whose name is on a contract of actors from 10 October 1564, has been referred to as the first Italian actress known by name, with Vincenza Armani and Barbara Flaminia as the first primadonnas and the first well-documented actresses in Italy (and Europe). Goldoni: Smeraldina 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. Of the same period were the Desiosi, formed in 1595, to which Tristano Martinelli (c. 15571630), the famous Arlecchino, belonged; the Comici Confidnti, active from 1574 to 1621; and the Uniti, under Drusiano Martinelli and his wife, Angelica, a company first mentioned in 1574. Performances took place on temporary stages, mostly on city streets, but occasionally even in court venues. This is an example of another major influence of commedia dell'arte: biomechanics ("How Commedia dell'Arte Influences Modern Comedy"). These characters included the forebears of the modern clown, namely Harlequin (Arlecchino) and the zanni. [25] Commedia often performed inside in court theatres or halls, and also as some fixed theatres such as Teatro Baldrucca in Florence. Leoncavallo's tragic melodrama Pagliacci depicts a commedia dell'arte company in which the performers find their life situations reflecting events they depict on stage. Omissions? Janus symbolized both the comings and goings of this travelling troupe and the dual nature of the actor who impersonates the "other." He usually pairs these two with a big black coat called a zimarra.[45][44]. Bean: Harry Dangle. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. 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). Vittoria Piisimi (fl. Brighella, like Columbina, is a servant (zanni) that has risen to a level of limited power and status (often a head butler, a bartender, amatre d', etc. The first recorded commedia dell'arte performances came from Rome as early as 1551. Description of Commedia dell'Arte characters - Italymask Her innocence is a bit of a ruse--depending on how she is performed, she may be a perky and flirtatious character, or a quick-witted one known to outsmart the others. Commedia dell'Arte. Last edited on 13 February 2023, at 10:09, "Faction of Fools | A History of Commedia dell'Arte", https://calperformances.org/learn/program_notes/2011/pn_gerstein.pdf, "The Commedia dell'arte: Its Origins, Development & Influence on the Ballet", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Commedia_dell%27arte&oldid=1139096957, Colorful tight-fitting jacket and trousers, Corduroy jacket and pants, red and white cross-striped socks, Can be colourful on par with Arlecchino or black and white, Compagnia dei Fedeli: active 16011652, with, Compagnia dei Confidenti: active 15741599; reformed under, Aguirre, Mariano 'Qu es la Commedia dell'arte' (Spanish). Tristano Martinelli achieved international fame as the first of the great Arlecchinos, and was honoured by the Medici and the Queen of France. [27] The Italian scholar Ferdinando Taviani has collated a number of church documents opposing the advent of the actress as a kind of courtesan, whose scanty attire and promiscuous lifestyle corrupted young men, or at least infused them with carnal desires. The Italian players were also popular in England, Spain, and Bavaria. This is a class of characters all falling under the same guidelines. It was taken from England to Copenhagen (1801), where, at the Tivoli Gardens, it still survives. [28] In France, during the reign of Louis XIV, the Comdie-Italienne created a repertoire and delineated new masks and characters, while deleting some of the Italian precursors, such as Pantalone. Goldoni: Beatrice Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. Taviani, Ferdinando and Marotti, Ferruccio, and Romei, Giovanna. Often either an orphan or the daughter of an undesirable father (plot-wise at the time, "undesirable fathers" could include paupers, alcoholics, or--like Jessica in Merchant of Venice--Jews), Vittoria enters the play with a greater level of "street smarts," chutzpah, and--quite often--maturity due to her past. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Comici-Confidenti. In the Flaminio Scala scenario, for example, Il Magnifico persists and is interchangeable with Pantalone into the 17th century. 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. His costume is red and black, and he wears tight-fitting trousers and a flowing cape to suggest his flair and worldliness. 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. After its dissolution (c. 1621) a number of its actors became associated with the French version of the commedia dellarte, the Comdie-Italienne in Paris. In the 18th century, Watteau's painting of commedia figures intermingling with the aristocracy were often set in sumptuous garden or pastoral settings and were representative of that genre. Sometimes called Arlechinno, Harlequin is one of the most instantly recognizable characters from commedia dell'arte. The Commedia dell'arte is improvisatory by nature, therefore heavily depends on the skill of the performer. [6][8] The form of theatre originated in Italy, but travelled throughout Europe - sometimes to as far away as Moscow.[15]. Professional players who specialized in one role developed an unmatched comic acting technique, which contributed to the popularity of the itinerant commedia troupes that traveled throughout Europe. Their character was played with a malicious wit or gossipy gaiety. Most of these characters, with the exception of the lovers and Columbina, wore masks. Despite fluctuations the Gelosi maintained stability for performances with the "usual ten": "two vecchi (old men), four innamorati (two male and two female lovers), two zanni, a captain and a servetta (serving maid)". See notes on the"Commedia" history/style page about the importance of his costume! 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. Additionally, which characters were considered Zanni could change. He is handsome, brilliant, a genius, and a great swordsman -- or, at least, he is according to him! Copyright law governing Academic Fair Use. This nomadic nature, though influenced by persecution, was also largely due in part to the troupes requiring new (and paying) audiences. Goldoni: Clarice There is also a female character known as The Courtisane who can also have a servant. Archetype: Columbina copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. While Calmo's characters (which also included the Spanish Capitano and a dottore type) were not masked, it is uncertain at what point the characters donned the mask. The audience should feel that, given time to grow up and get some experience, he could actually be a decent human being, and part of our experience should be routing for him to do so. Though the style's origins are unclear, at least one troupe was extant in Italy by 1545. By Katie Schoolov / Video Journalist, Beth Accomando / Arts & Culture Reporter. Katritzky argues, that as a result, commedia was reduced to formulaic and stylized acting; as far as possible from the purity of the improvisational genesis a century earlier. . Any included videos, graphics,photographs, or other protected materialis utilized under the provisions ofU.S. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Marivaux softened the commedia considerably by bringing in true emotion to the stage. 'comedy of the profession')[3] was an early form of professional theatre, originating from Italian theatre, that was popular throughout Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries. A special characteristic of commedia is the lazzo, a joke or "something foolish or witty", usually well known to the performers and to some extent a scripted routine. La sua novit la professionalizzazione del. Greco - COMPLETO E RIASSUNTIVO - LA COMMEDIA La cosa pi interessante Castagno describes the Flemish pittore vago (wandering painters) who assimilated themselves within Italian workshops and even assumed Italian surnames: one of the most influential painters, Lodewyk Toeput, for example, became Ludovico Pozzoserrato and was a celebrated painter in the Veneto region of Italy. Columbina, a maidservant, was often paired in love matches with Arlecchino, Pedrolino, or the Capitano. Comici Confidnti, either of two companies of the Italian commedia dellarte that were instrumental in extending the reputation of this form of improvised theatre throughout Europe. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. More than any other element, the Commedia Dell'Arte characters are remembered as the most important and enjoyable elements of the performances. Music and dance were central to commedia dell'arte performance, and most performances had both instrumental and vocal music in them. Here are some of the most important ones. PDF Shakespeare And Commedia Dell Arte Play By Play / Paul A. Olson Copy 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. Commedia dell'arte has a long history. Columbinais often a "lead" servant of some kind -- perhaps a lady-in-waiting, perhaps a "head of household" maid -- she undeniably fits with the "zanni" class of servants, and yet, through her intelligence, her wit, her street smarts,and, at times, her ability to use her looks,physique, and batting eyelashses to get anything she wants out of men (including masters), she is often able to be the most influential character in the plot. Commedia dell'arte (meaning: comedy of the art) was a style of Italian street theater that flourished during the 14th-18th centuries. This was in reference to the nomadic nature of the troupes, often instigated by persecution from the Church, civil authorities, and rival theatre organisations that forced the companies to move from place to place. [nota 2] Adems de las intrigas y escenarios tpicos de la comedia erudita, se incluan en el repertorio . The parents were clearly differentiated. Stock characters and situations also appear in ballet. He sometimes has a tear painted on one cheek, giving him a very similar appearance to some contemporary images of clowns. [10][11] Another characteristic of commedia is pantomime, which is mostly used by the character Arlecchino, now better known as Harlequin. Commedia dell'arte - Wikipedia If you could combine Vizzini from the Princess Bride, Zoidberg from Futurama, andOwl from Winnie the Pooh, you'd have Il Dottore. In 1592, Piisimi left the Gelosi theatre. She was often played in either a domino or no mask at all, and often dressed in high fashion. Harlequin, Italian Arlecchino, French Arlequin, one of the principal stock characters of the Italian commedia dell'arte; often a facile and witty gentleman's valet and a capricious swain of the serving maid. It was not reborn in Venice until 1979 because of this.[30]. 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). Typically, Capitano wears an exaggerated military uniform, with a feathered hat and ornate boots. [44][45] Usually, there was a bat and a wallet that would hang from his belt. Harlequin | theatrical character | Britannica Be sure to tag us whenposting (public-appropriate) rehearsal The Punch and Judy puppet shows, popular to this day in England, owe their basis to the Pulcinella mask that emerged in Neapolitan versions of the form. Sono queste due delle 342 le lettere scritte dall'artista e adesso restaurate da Casa Buonarroti a Firenze. The Innamorati. 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 . Bean: "Charlie the Duck". Though merely speculative, these conjectures have revealed the existence of rustic regional dialect farces in Italy during the Middle Ages. Yet the art form never really died out. The piano piece Carnaval by Robert Schumann was conceived as a kind of masked ball that combined characters from commedia dell'arte with real world characters, such as Chopin, Paganini, and Clara Schumann, as well as characters from the composer's inner world. From its earliest times, performances are unscripted, held outside, and employ few props. [44][45], Pantalone has one of the most iconic costumes of commedia dell'arte. Dottore Gratiano was, in origin, a Bolognese lawyer or doctor; gullible and lecherous, he spoke in a pedantic mixture of Italian and Latin. Its influence on other comedic genres can still be felt today. The shows employed familiar characters and situations, often involving acrobatics and slapstick comedy. Notably, his is the only mask without cheeks -- the reason being actors would rouge their cheeks to show Il Dottore's regular drunkeness. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Use tab to navigate through the menu items. The commedia dellarte was a form of popular theatre that emphasized ensemble acting; its improvisations were set in a firm framework of masks and stock situations, and its plots were frequently borrowed from the classical literary tradition of the commedia erudita, or literary drama. Commedia dell'arte performance, Paris, 1768. As Pierrot, his winsome character carried over into later French pantomimes. They would only wear plain half-masks with no character distinction or street makeup. Bean: Alan. 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. In Italy, commedia masks and plots found their way into the opera buffa, and the plots of Rossini, Verdi, and Puccini. [24] This view may be somewhat romanticized since records describe the Gelosi performing Tasso's Aminta, for example, and much was done at court rather than in the street. The female character in the masters group is called Prima Donna and can be one of the lovers. Silviois the male counterpart to Isabella, and matches her posing and gesticulating every step of the way. While not a pushover (in some productions, he may even be a master swordfighter), he nonetheless has a dreamer's eye and a poet's heart. 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. Multisala G. Modena, Supercinema Vittoria, Cinema Teatro Nuovo Roma & Arena Andie confronts her father inPretty in Pink, Archetype: Lelio/Romeo/etc. The Comdie-Italienne was formally established in France in 1653 and remained popular until Louis XIV expelled the Italian troupes in 1697. One important character in Commedia shows is Arlecchino, or Harlequin, who performs physical comedy called lazzi, is always hungry, and carries a wooden stick. Commedia dell'Arte Characters. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. The comical Hanswurst, of German folklore, was also a commedia dellarte character. He has a powdered face but no mask and he is usually costumed in loose-fitting white clothing. During the Napoleonic occupation of Italy, instigators of reform and critics of French Imperial rule (such as Giacomo Casanova) used the carnival masks to hide their identities while fueling political agendas, challenging social rule and hurling blatant insults and criticisms at the regime. The tradition in Northern Italy is centred in Florence, Mantua, and Venice, where the major companies came under the protection of the various dukes. Arlecchinois arguably the most famous of the Commedia masks, whether as "Arlecchino," "Truffaldino," or the infamous "Harlequin." 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. The zanni had already been differentiated as comic rustic and witty fool. Almost always the daughter of a rich master character (very often Pantalone, the richest of them all), she often betrays a certain level of "spoiled," but it's important to note that she is not a "Mean Girl"-style villain. Prominent examples include The Tempest by William Shakespeare, Les Fourberies de Scapin by Molire, Servant of Two Masters (1743) by Carlo Goldoni, the Figaro plays of Pierre Beaumarchais, and especially Love for Three Oranges, Turandot and other fiabe by Carlo Gozzi. These helped audiences identify what each character personifies and made it easy to identify the character in each commedia dell'arte performance. Numerous acting companies formed commedia dell'arte troupes, and the character types and costumes began to solidify in their performances in countries like Italy, France, and England. A commedia dell'arte (rtsd: hivatsosok sznjtka") rgtnztt sznjtk, mely a 16. szzad kzepn alakult ki Itliban. Commedia evolved into various configurations across Europe, and each country acculturated the form to its liking. Harlequin achieved more prominence during this period. His fault is that he tends to carry the negative societal consequences of being a "dreamer," and--in some versions--lets his emotions run away from him, over-reacting to situations (whether falling madly in love or lashing out in anger). Piisimi combined her acting with singing, dancing and by writing music and was reportedly admired also in these fields. Zanni. He's a pastiche of a servant or worker like a baker: he's dressed in long, white, baggy clothes with a big hat that looks something like a chef's hat. Archetype: Il Dottore Many consider Commedia to be the precursor to the contemporary romantic comedy genre, as most Commedia plays included young lovers, romantic intrigue, and humorous elements. Il Capitano is a character who can be difficult to characterize but is nonetheless a mainstay of Commedia pieces. [45][44] Over the gown, he would have a long black robe that went down to his heels, and he would have on black shoes, stockings, and breeches. Commedia was the first theatrical form in Europe that featured women on stage and it was also the first professional form of theatre; all performances were funded entirely by audience donations. 1595), was an Italian actress, singer, dancer, theatre director and musician. More often than not, if Columbina is present in a Commedia scenario, she'll be the one to unravel the play's many knots, or at least give the leads the advice they need. It is known for having masked characters and physical comedy. The characters of Isabella, Lelio, Flavio and Vittoria, among many more are all part of the Innamorati. Christian singing "Your Song" in Moulin Rouge, Archetype: Silvio/Flavio/etc. Also like Columbina, he is usually quite intelligent--far more so than either the lower servants or the masters. Arlecchino is the lovable pauper who is usually on the wrong side of the Masters, but always beloved by the audience. She then returned to the Gelosi. Il Dottore ("the Doctor") fancies himself as the wisest gent in the village; displaying the hypocracy inherent in all Commedia masters, however, Il Dottore is actually extremely foolish, given to malaprops, flights of illogical ramblings, and superstition. 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. 90% of romantic comedies (which, of course, owe a lot to Commedia) have this character -- part Johnny Bravo, part Captain Hammer, part Disney World guy who plays Gaston [rather than the more "evil" Gaston ofthe film]. His mask has round cheeks and a snub nose. Although commedia dell'arte flourished in the Italian theatre during the Mannerist period, there has been a long-standing tradition of trying to establish historical antecedents in antiquity. 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.

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