Commedia dell' Arte

Commedia dell' Arte

Recently at school,we've started a Commedia dell Arte show called ''Scapino!'',and so I figured I could write about the form of theatre.

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Commedia dell' Arte,which is Italian Comedy,is a form theatre characterized by masked ''types''.Commedia dell' Arte began in the 16th century in Italy and was a lot of improved performances based on sketches or scenarios.

Italian theatre historians believe Commedia was a response to the political and economic crisis of the 16th century and became the first entirely professional form of theatre.

Pantalone,a stock character

The charcters of Commedia usually represent fixed social types known as''stock charcters'',like foolish old men,devious servants,or military officers full of false bravado.

Characters like Pantalone,a miserly Venetian merchant,or Arlecchino,a mischievious servant from Bergamo.Sadly,during the Napoleonic occupation of Italy,Commedia dell' Arte was outlawed.

The Servant of Two Masters

But that never stopped the theatre of today,plenty of theaters everywhere,whether it be traveling companies or school casts,directors everywhere still find beauty and art within these shows.

Thanks for reading,Check out next week's post!!!!