Transcript Commedia Dell`Arte [download]

Using ‘Stock Characters’
Yesterday’s Lesson
 Using ‘tension states’ is a method of getting into
character that allows the actor to recall and explore
different levels of emotions
We demonstrated using different tension states by
improvising a mime about friends going to a shopping centre.
• Some tension states we explored were
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Exhausted
Laidback
Neutral
Alert
Suspense
Passionate
Tragic
Yesterday’s Lesson
 We also explored in the last part of the lesson ‘Centres
of leading’.
Centres of leading is the part of the body that
appears to lead gestures, such as the chest as a
leading centre for a brave character.
 Some Centres of leading we explored were
 Leading with your nose
 Leading with your shoulders and chest
 Leading with your knees
Artist’s Comedy
 A form of theatre developed in late-Renaissance Italy,
Commedia Dell'Arte ("artists' comedy") relied on a group of
stock characters, whose roles, characteristics, and costumes were
well-defined and widely known. It is a form of improvisational
comedy
 A stock character is a character who is instantly
recognizable to us from other stories; the grumpy grandpa,
the snooty cheerleader, the bratty younger sibling
 Commedia Dell'Arte originated in streets and market places of
Italy, 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 travelling .
 Pantalone
His name means
something like
“Mr. Big Pants.”
A wealthy,
miserly old man
 Mask: a hooked
nose, wrinkled
face, bushy
eyebrows.
 Il Dottore
“The Doctor,” a smug,
know-it-all professor,
who really
knows nothing.
 Mask: a round, stubby
nose like a pig,
chubby cheeks, bushy
eyebrows or a
moustache.
 Il Capitano
“The Captain,” a
boasting, bragging
macho soldier, who is
actually a coward
underneath.
 Mask: a long nose,
wide eyes, sometimes
an exaggerated handle
bar moustache
 Arlecchino
“Harlequin,” the
nimble, acrobatic,
tricky servant.
Childlike, sometimes
not too bright, but
usually wins out in the
end.
 Mask: a sly, cat-like
face, with a short nose
 Brighella
His name means
something like “Brawler”
(“Knuckles "or “Bruiser” –
someone ready for a
fight). The tough-guy
servant, a good liar,
always out for himself
 Mask: A green half-mask
with a greedy expression
 Columbina
“Little dove.” The wisecracking maid, usually
the smartest character.
Flirtatious and playful
 Mask: sometimes
masked (with a small
half-mask), sometimes
not
 Gli Innamorati
The lovers
were Fabio for the boy,
Isabella for the girl They
were Young, graceful and
attractive, they wore
fashionable clothes and
no masks. They could be
slightly vain and not
always bright – in love
with themselves a bit too
much – but they were
sincere.
Commedia Stock Characters
used in today’s comedies!
Futurama
•Arlecchino: Fry
•Colombina: Leela
•Brighella: Bender
•Pantalone: Professor
Farnsworth
•Il Dottore: Dr.
Zoidberg
•Il Capitano: Zap
Branigan
•Innamorati: Amy
and Kif
The Simpsons
 Pantalone: the old miser, thin,
miserable, evil - Mr Burns
 Il Dottore: has a position of
authority, thinks he knows it all,
but is in fact quite stupid and
gluttonous - Chief Wiggum
 Arlecchino: Mischievous, impish
fool. Of a low intelligence, except
when it comes to pranking figures
of authority – Bart
 Columbina :The intelligent,
beautiful and wily female servant.
The one who sorts out the
problems. Can be mischievous
herself – Lisa
 Isabella: A slightly older, female
figure of authority who is in
charge, often sorts out problems
and often lusted after by the male
characters - Marge