Origins
Commedia dell’Arte began in this European country.
What is Italy?
True or False: All Commedia actors memorized detailed scripts before performing.
What is "false"?
True or False: Commedia was only for wealthy nobles in palaces.
What is "False"?
Commedia dell’Arte influenced this famous English playwright’s clowns and comic characters.
Who is William Shakespeare?
The century in which Commedia dell’Arte first become popular.
What is the 16th Century?
This type of physical comedy, often using exaggerated movement and props, was a hallmark of Commedia.
What is Slapstick?
Commedia was designed to be performed for this type of audience.
What is "general public" or "everyday people"?
Why do we still study Commedia today?
Because it laid the foundation for character-driven comedy, improvisation, and ensemble performance that continue to influence theatre and media worldwide.
The phrase “Commedia dell’Arte” translates roughly to this in English.
What is "The Comedy of Professional Artists"?
Short rehearsed comic routines that could be dropped into performances were called this.
What are lazzi?
To make characters easily recognizable / to exaggerate traits for the audience.
Why did Commedia characters wear masks?
The broad physical humor of Commedia is a direct ancestor of this modern genre of film comedy.
What is slapstick comedy (e.g., Charlie Chaplin, The Three Stooges)?
Performances were usually held in these public gathering places.
What are the marketplaces or town squares?
One skill, besides acting, that a Commedia performer often had.
What is singing, acrobatics, playing instruments, dancing, etc.?
How did Commedia performances break down barriers between performers and the audience?
By using improvisation, direct interaction, and humor the audience could relate to.
Name one element of Commedia still found in modern sitcoms or sketch comedy.
Stock characters, improvisation, physical comedy, exaggerated archetypes, etc.
Commedia was performed by groups of professional actors, also called this
What is a compagnia (company or troupe)?
Instead of full scripts, actors worked from this type of basic outline.
What is scenario (or canovaccio)?
The lasting lesson about theatre can we learn from Commedia’s popularity with everyday people?
What is theatre for everyone, not just the elite?
This French playwright, known for Tartuffe and other comedies, was directly influenced by Commedia.
Who is Molière?