#1
Commedia dell'arte originated in what country?
A. France
B. Italy
C. England
B. Italy
This character is usually a vainglorious, deceitful and braggart soldier, dressed in a bright and colorful uniform. His part usually involves him boasting of great exploits of war, but he is also the subject of pranks and jokes from the other characters. He sometimes responds to this by unsheathing his sword, but the only blood that is ever spilt is his own!
Capitano
Commedia dell'arte emphasized ___________________ and audience interaction in their performances.
A. Sleight of hand
B. Improvisation
C. Acrobatics
B. Improvisation
Which roles are NOT seen in a typical Commedia dell'arte scenario?
A. Elderly women
B. Elderly men
C. Two lovers
A. Elderly women
The three main categories for Commedia characters were:
A. Peasants, lovers, patriarchs
B. Lovers, servants, clergy
C. Servants, lovers, masters
C. Servants, lovers, masters
A typical Commedia scenario involved ____________________.
A. Siblings scheming to get back at their parents' strict rules
B. Money hungry husband enacting revenge on his wife
C. Young couple’s love being thwarted by their parents
C. Young couple’s love being thwarted by their parents
Arlecchino has stolen some money from Pantalone. When Pantalone realizes his money is gone, he asks Zanni to fetch Dottore for advice. What would happen next for this to be an accurate Commedia scenario?
A. Dottore offers his son, Capitano in exchange for the money that was lost
B. Dottore arrives and returns the money to Pantalone
C. When Dottore finally arrives, he gives Pantalone several medical diagnoses.
C. When Dottore finally arrives, he gives Pantalone several medical diagnoses.
True or False: The longer the nose, the more intelligent the character.
False!
Capitano and many other servant characters had a longer nose to symbolize their lower status.
Most storylines in Commedia could be boiled down to:
A. Money, greed, or family
B. Love, money, or food
C. Politics, love, or wealth
B. Love, money, or food
Arlecchino has to send a message from one of his masters to the other. What would make this scenario accurate for Commedia dell'arte?
A. He tells the message to Master #2
B. He forgets the message and chaos ensues as he tries to explain what Master #1 needs
C. He flirts with Isabella in front of her father, Pantalone
B. He forgets the message and chaos ensues as he tries to explain what Master #1 needs
The only two characters who did not wear masks were...
The Lovers
Commedia dell'arte troupes were often headed by:
A. Whole families
B. King/Queen endorsed actors
C. Husband and wife duos
C. Husband and wife duos
True or false: Each stock character of the commedia evolved a distinct set of attributes—characteristic speech, gestures, props, and costume that became standard to the portrayal of the character.
True!
True or false: The original characters' names did not change when the troupes traveled to a different country.
False!
Character names were slightly adjusted to fit the vernacular, or regional dialects/accents, of the place where they were performing. For example, Arlecchino became Harlequin in France.
This character wears a mask over half of his face that highlights his bulbous nose. He is a 'doctor' only in name and is depicted at times as a learned physician and at other times as a notary or lawyer.
Dotorre
Which roles are NOT seen in a typical Commedia dell'arte scenario?
A. Maids
B. Chorus members
C. Zanni
B. Chorus members
Which character was transformed into a regular stock character due to their performers' popularity?
A. Pulcinella
B. Dotorre
C. Columbina
A. Pulcinella
Commedia dell'arte performers used ___________________________ to enhance the differences in their characters.
A. Facial expressions
B. Vernacular dialects
C. Masks
B. Vernacular dialects
Which character was transformed into regular stock characters due to their performers' popularity?
A. Pantalone
B. Capitano
C. Arlecchino
C. Arlecchino
True or false: Though there was some doubling of masks (roles), most players created their own masks or developed ones already established. This helped to keep a traditional continuity while allowing diversity.
True
This character is generally an old merchant, often wealthy and esteemed, at other times completely ruined, yet always an old man in every detail, with business skills. His mask typically highlighted his physical characteristics including a hooked nose and prominent eyebrows.
Pantalone
This character had a mask with a beaked nose. His squeaky voice and clownish ways gave rise to him being cast as a charlatan, lazy bones, tumbler and acrobat.
Pulcinella
This character is usually cast as a mischievous maid, representing what maids wore in the 1700s. Her masks was an "Eye Mask", just covering the eyes and exposing the mouth so that the wearer is able to eat and drink freely. This design is said to have originated because of the character's vanity and not wanting to obscure too much of her beauty with a mask.
Columbina
This character was a shrewd servant in the 'Zanni' genre. One of his specialties for this role are the tricks and pranks that he plays on other characters and is sometimes also an expert musician, singing and playing the guitar. This meddlesome, greedy and astute servant is also a ruffian, ready to satisfy even the meanest desires of his master.
Brighella
Pantalone enlists Arlecchino's help in getting a date with Isabella, who doesn't know he exists. What happens next in order for this to be an accurate Commedia scenario?
A. Arlecchino gives him a lot of bad advice about Pantalone's clothes and how he should act.
B. Arlecchino begins his acrobatic act
C. Arlecchino arranges for Columbina to arrive to trick Pantalone
A. Arlecchino gives him a lot of bad advice about Pantalone's clothes and how he should act.
C could also be a valid answer, but I am using scenarios we have already seen before as examples.