Commedia Dell'Arte: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

[[File:Columbina.jpg|frame|Columbina, possibly the sanest character in the play, considers.]]

 

A form of theater developed in late-Renaissance Italy, '''Commedia dell'Arte''' ("artists' comedy") relied on a group of [[Stock Character|stock characters]], whose roles, characteristics, and costumes were well-defined and widely known. The troupe would take a scenario, which would outline the plot, and ad-lib all their dialog and the details of the action.

 

 

Commedia dell'Arte stock characters usually included:

* '''[[Official Couple|The Lovers]]''' (''innamorati'')

* '''[[Adults Are Useless|The Old People]]''' (''vecchi'') [[Parental Marriage Veto|get in the way of the lovers' happiness]]; often, two of them (usually the Doctor and Pantalone) are the lovers' respective fathers. The ''innamorato'' 's father may want to marry the ''innamorata'' himself.

** '''[[Miles Gloriosus|The Captain]]''' (''il Capitano''): Blowhard, [[Casanova Wannabe|thinks he's God's gift to women]], will turn out to have [[Feet of Clay]]. Often serves as the [[Romantic False Lead]]. If the ''innamorato'' 's biggest rival for the ''innamorata'' 's hand isn't his own father, it's this guy. Typically a disliked foreigner, often from Spain (as Spain, the superpower of the time, held political sway over Italy). Usually has an [[Overly Long Name]] (very common in Spanish nobility). A variant is Scaramuccia.

** '''Pantalone''': Often the father of the other ''innamorato/a''. [[Greed|Rich and miserly.]] Keeps propositioning Colombina, the [[Dirty Old Man]]. Is also a [[Bad Boss]] to Arlechino. Sometimes an [[Unsympathetic Comedy Protagonist]]. Based primarily on the stereotype of the rich Venetian merchant. Has a peculiar, shuffling walk, because he's always wearing Turkish sandals.

** '''Tartaglia''': Defined by his [[Porky Pig Pronunciation|terrible stutter]]; is often [[Blind Without'Em|blind as a bat]] as well. Often a priest, whose main role is to conduct whatever marriages happen at the end.

** '''Colombina''' (''Pierrette''): [[Distaff Counterpart]] of Arlecchino; servant of the ''innamorata''. Forms a [[Beta Couple]] with Arlecchino. [[Liz Lemon Job|Often the smartest/sanest person in the play.]] (What, [[Older Than They Think|you thought]] [[Women Are Wiser]] [[Older Than They Think|was a]] ''[[Older Than They Think|recent]]'' [[Older Than They Think|invention]]?) Usually plays a musical instrument, sings, dances, or does all three. Wears lots of bright colours. Also can be known as Arlecchina.

** '''Pierrot''' (''Pedrolino'', ''Pedro''): Loyal, hardworking, dependable servant; the story's [[Chew Toy]]. In love with someone, usually Colombina, who doesn't love him back. May be the [[Sad Clown]]. Usually dressed almost entirely in white, with a little bit of black. Variants include: Pedrolino, Burrattino, Bertoldo, Pagliaccio, Peppe Nappa, and Gian-Farina.

** '''Pulcinella''' (''[[Punch and Judy|Punch]]''): A hunchback or otherwise disabled/disfigured character, based on the stooping walk of Renaissance Italian coal carriers. Can be an idiot, can be a [[Genius Cripple]]. Very violent, especially towards Arlecchino and Pierrot, and speaks in an unusually squeaky voice. His name means "little chicken".

* '''Other characters'''

 

 

 

 

== [[Literature]] ==

* Carlo Goldoni's plays are classic Commedia dell'Arte.

* It is less evident from the book's final edition, but in ''The Master and Margarita'' by Mikhail Bulgakov two of the devil's servants bear some resemblance to the most popular zanni characters. Koroviev, the talkative trickster dressed in checked clothes brings to mind Arlecchino, and in certain early version of the novel there's a character called "Fiello", a hunchbacked brute with mouth full of fangs, dressed in white, grotesque clothes with bells attached, who seems to have some of Pulcinella's characteristics. The latter was subsequently modified by the writer to become Azazello, another servant of the devil. Azazello lacks any significant resemblance to Commedia dell'Arte characters.

* The characters do not fit the archetypes, but in ''[[The Vampire Chronicles|The Vampire Lestat]]'', the title character joins a Commedia dell'Arte troupe in his pre-vampire days. He plays Lelio, and counts his time as an actor among the best experiences in his human life.

 

** The Lovers: George Michael and Maebe, although Maebe tends to also often be the rare female version of Arlecchino.

** Il Dottore: Dr. Tobias Funke, of course.

** Pierrot: Poor, poor Michael Bluth.

 

 

 

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Ensembles]]