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Commedia dell'Arte, (in Italian, "Artistic Comedy") was a form of improvisational theater which began in the 16th century and was popular from then until the 18th century, although it is still performed and enjoyed today. Traveling teams of players would set up an outdoor stage and provide amusement in the form of juggling, acrobatics, and, more typically, humorous plays based on a repertoire of established characters with a rough not detailed story, usually very simple, called Canovaccio.

(Troupes occasionally would perform directly from the back of their traveling wagon, but this is more typical of "Carro di Tespi", sort of travelling theatre that was introduced in Italy during Fascism).

The performances were improvised around preordained situations, adultery, jealousy, old age, love. The dialogue and action could easily be made topical and adjusted to satirize local scandals, current events, or regional tastes, mixed with ancient jokes and punchlines. Characters were identified by costume, masks, and even props, such as the slapstick.

Thus, the Commedia dell'Arte, with its stock situations and characters and improvised dialogue. has shown the way to many other forms of drama, from pantomime and Punch and Judy to the modern animated cartoon, situation comedy and even professional wrestling.

Commedia dell'Arte in its turn was influenced by the tradition of Roman comedy.

The troupe of players depicted in William Shakespeare's Hamlet were probably Commedia dell'Arte players.

Male Commedia dell'Arte characters were depicted by actors wearing masks representing regions or towns. The female characters, however, were usually not masked. In fact, the reoles were often played by males in women's clothing and wigs, "en travesti", as it is called.

Following is a list of the original Italian characters, with other English or French names, or descendant characters in parentheses):

• Arlecchino (Harlequin), an acrobat and clown, he carried a baton which he used to bash other characters, leading to the modern term "slapstick". He wore a cat mask, and his ultimate costume, a patchwork of red, green, and blue diamonds is still a fashion motif.
• Brighella (Figaro, Moliere's Scapin), a money-grubbing villain, a partner of Arlecchino
• Columbina (the Servant, Columbine, Harlequine, Pierrette), maidservant to Inamorata and lover of Arlecchino, usually involved in intrigue
• Il Capitano (the Captain), boastful he-man soldier, but a coward underneath
• Il Dottore (the Doctor), Pantalone's friend, and a quack
• Inamorata (the Lover), the "leading woman", who wore no mask (see innamorati)
• Inamorato (the Lover), the "leading man", who wore no mask (see innamorati)
• Pagliaccio (the Clown), a forerunner of today's clowns
• Pantalone (Pantaloon), a rich and miserly merchant
• Pedrolino (Pierrot), a dreamer, white mask
• Pulchinello, a hunchback who chases women, he was the model for Punch in the English variation Punch and Judy),
• La Ruffiana (old woman), usually a mother or gossipy townswoman who intrudes into the lives of the Lovers
• Scaramuccia (Scaramouche), a roguish adventurer and swordsman who replaced Il Capitano in later troupes.

External Links

• The film "Scaramouche" (1952) is about a roguish adventurer and swordsman who hides out in a Commedia dell'Arte troupe, and features many Commedia scenes as well as backstage situations.

• Also A Thumbnail History of Commedia dell'Arte includes drawings of many of the characters and costumes.