Art & Culture

by Bruna Morena

COMMEDIA DELL' ARTE

Commedia Dell' Arte is a theatrical form which appeared in the Middle Age in Europe. It has as characteristic the mimesis, which is the imitation of life through the realization of characters-types, archetypes, the low-commedia of European genders.

At that time, actors interpreted only one character for their whole lives. There weren't written scenes, just improvisation.

Commedia Dell' Arte is characterized by the use of body expression, especific forms of walking and the half-mask, each exclusive for its character.

History of Commedia Dell'arte

"Commedia Dell'arte" means the comedy of hability (the art of improvisation). Originated in Italy, it was only named in the sixteenth century in Italy as well. The actors of Commedia dell'arte were the first ones that actually worked as actors, turning the theatre into a real career. "Actors dell'arte were, according to the original sense, artisans of theatre"*.

The first impulsion came from Italian carnival, which consisted of satires of the social types, carried through in the mascarati's parades. The types were presented through their clothes, and the show involved mimes, acrobacies and panthomimes.

Angelo Beolco de Pádua, whose nickname was Ruzzante, was the first one to do the factual apresentation with his group, in Venice, in 1520.

The characters

The characters are divided in four groups:

<Elders- as Dottore and Pantaleone: superficial and prepotent. Dottores are also bon-vivants. They wear black clothes with dribbles (to show imponency). Pantaleone is an old merchant from Venice. He's very rich and stingy. Servants or zanni- as Briguella or Arlechino: Brighella likes to fight and is a very vain person (always good-looking) and a flirter. Arlechino is very similar to a pícaro, a naïf who can survive on little tricks. Capitains- as Capittano: usually they're storytellers, who pretend to be very brave but are not. Capitains wear a layer and a sword. Lovers- Very young people. They're the only ones who don't wear a mask.

*BERTHOLD, Margot. A história mundial do teatro.

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