Commedia Dell'Arte
Commedia Dell’Arte
Throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries there has been an evolution of theatre performance. This evolution can be particularly witnessed through the form of performance of Commedia Dell’Arte.
Commedia Dell’Arte commonly referred to as ‘Comedy of the Art’ or ‘Italian Comedy’ is improvised drama, and emphasises the conduct of a performance not the actual subject content of a play. It is mainly known as an amusing theatrical display performed by professional actors who emerged and travelled in troupes throughout urban centres of Renaissance Italy within the 16th century. Commedia Dell’Arte developed in Italy as a form of popular street theatre, and has had a long life.
Commedia Dell’Arte flourished from the 14th to the 18th century, and particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries during which time it spread to Europe, with many of its elements persisting into today’s modern theatre. Within the abundant 16th century, performances appeared on substitute stages, generally on city streets, and would also occasionally take place in court settings. Witty dialogue, dance, music and all sorts of chicanery aided to the humorous effects. The better commedia troupes, such as the Gelosi, Confidenti, and Fedeli became internationally admired once they begun travelling. As the style spread, it also adapted different influences from differing countries of a troupes current location. This indirect influence caused commedia to change at a staggered rate, as different troupes adopted diverse changes.
Commedia plays were not the product of a moment’s inspiration. Fletcher (1927, p 153) state “the subject was chosen, the characters conceived and named, their relations to one another determined, and the situations clearly outlined, all beforehand. The material was divided into acts and scenes, with a prologue. The situations were made clear, together with the turn of action and the outcome of each scene”. After this canvas was adequately planned
Throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries there has been an evolution of theatre performance. This evolution can be particularly witnessed through the form of performance of Commedia Dell’Arte.
Commedia Dell’Arte commonly referred to as ‘Comedy of the Art’ or ‘Italian Comedy’ is improvised drama, and emphasises the conduct of a performance not the actual subject content of a play. It is mainly known as an amusing theatrical display performed by professional actors who emerged and travelled in troupes throughout urban centres of Renaissance Italy within the 16th century. Commedia Dell’Arte developed in Italy as a form of popular street theatre, and has had a long life.
Commedia Dell’Arte flourished from the 14th to the 18th century, and particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries during which time it spread to Europe, with many of its elements persisting into today’s modern theatre. Within the abundant 16th century, performances appeared on substitute stages, generally on city streets, and would also occasionally take place in court settings. Witty dialogue, dance, music and all sorts of chicanery aided to the humorous effects. The better commedia troupes, such as the Gelosi, Confidenti, and Fedeli became internationally admired once they begun travelling. As the style spread, it also adapted different influences from differing countries of a troupes current location. This indirect influence caused commedia to change at a staggered rate, as different troupes adopted diverse changes.
Commedia plays were not the product of a moment’s inspiration. Fletcher (1927, p 153) state “the subject was chosen, the characters conceived and named, their relations to one another determined, and the situations clearly outlined, all beforehand. The material was divided into acts and scenes, with a prologue. The situations were made clear, together with the turn of action and the outcome of each scene”. After this canvas was adequately planned