Commedia Dell Arte Research Paper

Commedia Dell'Arte, also known as comedy of artists is an Italian theatrical form that flourished throughout Europe from the 16th through the 18th century (Katritzky). Each commedia dell’arte company had a stock of scenarios and soliloquies, witty exchanges such as their lazzi, and about a dozen actors. The impact of the use of improvisation by travelling troupes inspired the tremendous use of grotesque poses and physicality. The use or lack of masks was very important on stock characters such as Arlecchino and the Innamorati in Commedia dell’arte. This clowning style by covering certain stock characters contributed to the slapstick comedy era. Commedia Dell’Arte kept traditional continuity while allowing diversity with the use of facial …show more content…
The Innamorati’s lack of masks showed their humanism with their beautiful faces being revealed and their dramatic lazzi of pawning over their other half. This idea of emotional dependence is an important part of being human because it is a flaw that everyone has normally felt. The Lovers often act in a childlike and immature way. When not getting their way, they become completely devastated, they pout, and even cry and whine if things do not go according to their wishes. Very selfish and self-centered, the Lovers are in their own worlds in which they themselves are the most important subjects. Along with loving themselves, they are in love with the very idea of love and what it pertains to. The women's dresses were of the finest silks and they wear showy jewelry characteristic of Renaissance style. The males wear soldier-like attire, while both sexes wear extravagant wigs and also change clothes numerous times throughout the length of the production. The costumes of the lovers were the fashion of the day, and the extravagance of the Lovers costumes often represented the status of the Commedia dell'arte company. Flaminio Scala’s play The Broken Promise shows how the scripts were just multiple stage directions so the stock characters can flourish in their lazzi. The Isabella character is certainly the most known among all female Lovers, due to the great intelligence and stage performance of Isabella Andreini, (who received and made hers forever) the Isabella role starting probably in 1578. At the time in which the Commedia dell'Arte was a big hit, as much as in the ancient Greek Theater tradition, women did not perform on stage. So the novelty of having real women acting added to the