Dramatic Elements and Theatrical Conventions
Dramatic Elements
Timing - timing would be important so that the jokes the actors made had comedic value.
Focus - The actors needed to be focused so that they could react to other characters offers.
Conflict - There was always some form of conflict in a Commedia dell' Arte performance, which the characters would need to resolve by the end.
Focus - The actors needed to be focused so that they could react to other characters offers.
Conflict - There was always some form of conflict in a Commedia dell' Arte performance, which the characters would need to resolve by the end.
Theatrical Conventions
STOCK CHARACTERS
The style had stock characters so that audiences were instantly able to recognise a character. The characters were very over the top and caricatured.
MINIMALISTIC SET
The set was minimalistic because they were often street performances, which did not allow for a complicated set.
IMPROVISATION
The actors improvised the performances. The actors were given a general outline of the scenes and the action that needed to happen. The rest was left for the actors to create in the moment.
PHYSICAL THEATRE
The acting style was very physical, and much acrobatics, dancing, and physical comedy could be expected in a production. The movement was also exaggerated.
MASKS
The actors wore elaborate half masks made of hardened leather. They helped formulate the character, and often had exaggerated features such as wrinkles, or a long nose.
MUSIC, DANCE, ACROBATICS
The shows were street performances, and the characters would often use music. They also did a number of acrobatic feats, and dances.
LAZZI
A series of comedic acts that were specific to a character and could be performed at any moment in the show. They were funny because the audience were expecting to see the Lazzi, they just did not know when. One of the more famous Lazzi is Arlecchino's cherry Lazzo. The mask of Arecchino would choose any moment in the story to start miming the eating of cherries. The audience and actors know that it will happen, but they don't know when.
The style had stock characters so that audiences were instantly able to recognise a character. The characters were very over the top and caricatured.
MINIMALISTIC SET
The set was minimalistic because they were often street performances, which did not allow for a complicated set.
IMPROVISATION
The actors improvised the performances. The actors were given a general outline of the scenes and the action that needed to happen. The rest was left for the actors to create in the moment.
PHYSICAL THEATRE
The acting style was very physical, and much acrobatics, dancing, and physical comedy could be expected in a production. The movement was also exaggerated.
MASKS
The actors wore elaborate half masks made of hardened leather. They helped formulate the character, and often had exaggerated features such as wrinkles, or a long nose.
MUSIC, DANCE, ACROBATICS
The shows were street performances, and the characters would often use music. They also did a number of acrobatic feats, and dances.
LAZZI
A series of comedic acts that were specific to a character and could be performed at any moment in the show. They were funny because the audience were expecting to see the Lazzi, they just did not know when. One of the more famous Lazzi is Arlecchino's cherry Lazzo. The mask of Arecchino would choose any moment in the story to start miming the eating of cherries. The audience and actors know that it will happen, but they don't know when.
