Commedia dell'arte

Commedia dell'arte was an early form of professional theatre that started in Italian theatre and became popular all over Europe from the 16th to the 18th centuries. It was also called Italian comedy, commedia alla maschera, and commedia improvviso. This kind of theatre used masked characters, each with their own names, costumes, and roles in the stories.

Performances often mixed scripted parts with improvised comedy. Actors might follow a basic outline but could make up new jokes and funny moments on the spot. One special part of these shows was called a lazzo, which was a funny or clever joke that the actors knew well. Pantomime, or acting out a story without words, was also common, especially for a character named Arlecchino, who we now know as Harlequin.

The characters in commedia dell'arte represented common types of people, like silly old men, tricky servants, or soldiers who liked to show off. There were also clever doctors, greedy old men, and loving couples. Famous groups of actors, such as I Gelosi, performed these plays in town squares and on platforms. Though it began in Italy, commedia dell'arte travelled across Europe, even as far as Moscow.

The tradition may have started from Carnival in Venice, where actors like Andrea Calmo created memorable characters. Over time, these characters began to wear masks, which became a key part of the performances. Different areas of Italy, like Florence, Mantua, and Naples, developed their own styles, with figures like Pulcinella becoming famous and even inspiring puppet shows such as Punch and Judy in England.

History

See also: Theatre of Italy

Commedia dell'arte was a popular form of theatre in Italy during the Mannerist period. It was known for its funny, improvised performances and special characters with masks and costumes. Some people think it started in ancient Roman times, but no one really knows for sure. Early performances were done outdoors by professional actors, unlike other plays that were written and performed indoors.

The first recorded performances were in Rome around 1551. Groups of actors, like the Gelosi, became famous for their shows. They performed in both Italy and France. By the mid-1600s, these groups had special characters and stories they would tell. In the 17th century, women began acting in these plays, which was new for Europe at the time.

As time went on, the style changed. In France, famous writers like Molière used ideas from commedia dell'arte in their own plays. The form continued to change across Europe, influencing other types of theatre like pantomime and Punch and Judy shows. During the time when Napoleon ruled Italy, commedia dell'arte was banned, but it returned to Venice much later in 1979.

Companies

Companies, or troupes, were groups of actors who each had a special role to play. Many actors joined these groups even if they didn’t come from a theatre background—some were doctors, priests, or soldiers who were drawn to the excitement of theatre. These troupes would travel around Europe, sometimes working together if they shared a patron or performed in the same area. Members could also leave to start their own groups, like the famous Ganassa and Gelosi troupes.

Each troupe had its own special symbol, called an impresse, to show what it stood for. For example, the Gelosi used the two-headed face of the Roman god Janus to represent their changing roles and connection to Carnival. These companies usually had ten performers, both men and women, and they traveled in big carts carrying everything they needed. They performed at fairs and celebrations, especially in wealthy towns, and sometimes were invited by important people to perform on their land. The troupes liked to move around to keep their performances fresh and exciting.

Characters

Commedia dell'arte featured many different characters, each with their own special costumes and masks. These characters were like archetypes, meaning they represented certain types of people from different places in Italy. For example, some characters were servants, like Arlecchino and Brighella, while others were wealthy old men, like Pantalone. There were also young lovers and bragging captains. Each character had a special mask that showed their personality, and sometimes actors would pass these roles down through their families.

In the 17th century, some characters like Pierrot and Harlequin became very popular in France and were adapted to fit Parisian styles.

Costumes

Main article: Costumes in commedia dell'arte

Each character in commedia dell'arte has a special costume that helps the audience know who they are.

Harlequin wore a jacket and pants covered with many colorful patches. Later, his outfit changed to have blue, red, and green triangles, and finally to diamond shapes. He also wore a special hat with a tail from an animal.

Il Dottore dressed like a scholar, all in black, with a long coat and robe. Later, his look changed to include a big hat and a fancy jacket.

Il Capitano’s outfit made fun of military uniforms and changed depending on where and when the play was set.

Pantalone wore a tight jacket and pants, along with a big black coat called a zimarra.

Women characters, who often played servants or lovers, wore stylish clothes of the time and were made up but usually did not wear masks.

Subjects

The stories in Commedia dell'arte often included themes like love and old age. Many of these ideas came from old Roman plays by Plautus and Terence. Performers would act out written plays for special events at royal courts. They used songs and dances, and some of the actors, called innamorati, were very good at singing special songs called madrigals.

People loved watching the actors more than the stories themselves. Famous performers included Isabella Andreini, known far and wide, and Tristano Martinelli, the first great Harlequin. Actors used jokes and funny actions, called lazzi and concetti, and also made up funny moments called burle on the spot.

Because the plays were made up as they went along, the actors could change what they said to make jokes about what was happening in real life. The characters wore special costumes and masks, and used props like a baton called a slapstick. These characters included early versions of the modern clown, like Harlequin and the Zanni. Harlequin was allowed to talk about what was happening in the world during his acts.

The usual story was about young lovers, the innamorati, who wanted to get married but were stopped by older people, the vecchi. The lovers would ask funny servant characters, the Zanni, for help. In the end, the lovers usually got to marry and everyone made up after any mistakes.

Influence in visual art

The art connected to commedia dell'arte is a big topic studied by many experts. Early paintings, especially from a place called Fontainebleau, sometimes showed actors in playful and bold ways.

Artists from Flanders also helped shape this art form. These artists worked in Italian studios and even took Italian names. One famous example is Lodewyk Toeput, who became known as Ludovico Pozzoserrato and created many celebrated works in Italy.

Many paintings and drawings of commedia dell'arte characters were created in studios and may not show real performances. For example, Callot’s etchings called the Balli di Sfessania are thought to be more imaginative than true scenes. In the 1700s, Watteau painted commedia characters mixing with rich people in beautiful garden settings.

Famous artist Pablo Picasso also used commedia dell'arte ideas in his 1921 painting called Three Musicians. He even made costumes for a ballet by Stravinsky named Pulcinella, which told stories using commedia characters. Today, small statues called porcelain figurines showing these characters can be very valuable.

Influence in performance art

The expressive theatre of commedia dell'arte influenced many famous writers and artists. It inspired the work of Molière and even helped shape early forms of ballet. One famous story, the Pied Piper of Hamelin, dresses his character like a commedia figure called Harlequin.

Music and dance were important parts of these performances. Actors often sang and played instruments, and many characters were known for their musical skills. Famous plays like The Tempest by William Shakespeare and The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni were influenced by commedia dell'arte characters. Even operas by Mozart, such as Don Giovanni, and music by Robert Schumann like Carnaval include these lively characters.

Today, these characters are still loved and performed, even in places like Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen.