History of Commedia
Commedia Dell'Arte can be seen in the popular cartoon TV show ________________________.
The Simpsons
This character is low-status and hyper-active, a prankster that can appear foolish but is secretly very smart.
Arlecchino
This is the term referring to where the audience sits.
The house.
INTRODUCTION: The latter half of the 19th century was a time of great prosperity and growth for theatre because ____________________________________.
Americans had more leisure time and better standards of living, and the expanding transportation system gave people more access to the arts.
An old patriarch-type figure who is extremely wealthy and powerful
Pantalone
The Commedia characters each focused on one character, which was a stock type, meaning...
...the same characters appeared in every show
A military figure who is arrogant and over-bearing, but secretly a coward
Capitano
This is where the techs will run the lighting and audio from during the show.
The booth (at the back of the house)
THEATRES OF THE 19TH CENTURY: Theater crowds in the first half of the 19th century had a reputation for being _____________ , but improvements in the buildings meant higher-class citizens could attend and the audience changed.
unruly, loud, uncouth, distracting, etc
Isabella
Each character had its own bit of lazzi, which was recognizable. What is lazzi?
Stage business (acting style)
An old, pompous man who gives bad advice, always wishes to become more rich and powerful.
Dottore
THEATRE LIFE: The typical pay for an actor was actually not bad during the antebellum period, but actors were expected to bring their own costumes, and the biggest issue of inequality was that _____________.
Women were paid less than men in comparable roles.
Low-status servant who is flirty and very intelligent
Columbina
In Italy at the beginning, Commedia was different from Shakespeare's works because it didn't use _____________ AND the cast was ______________
...it didn't use scripts and the cast included 3 women, even though Shakespeare's plays were written for an all-male cast.
Big, strong, and loves to eat. He tries to get something for himself out of every situation
Brighella
The ________ is the big white curtain that hangs at the back of the stage.
Cyc or Cyclorama
THEATRE LIFE: In the early 19th century, acting was considered _________________________, however by the mid 19th century, actors could be considered quite socially respectable if they made good money.
sinful and socially unaccepted
One of the lovers who is often someone Pantalone does not approve of
Lelio
Aspects of Commedia Dell'Arte also influenced into the silent acting style of ________________________.
Mime
A low-status servant or white collar worker who is very well-spoken when alone, but becomes a nervous wreck in front of others
Tartaglia
I walk _________stage in order to get closer to the audience.
DOWNstage
AMERICAN THEATER AND THE CIVIL WAR: One of the biggest theatrical events during the Civil War was the popularity of the play_______.
UNCLE TOM'S CABIN
Often played as an accountant or lawyer