Commedia dell’ Arte 1500’s Italy

The origins of comic archetypes ( or…where you got all the the ideas you have about comedy)

What is the Commedia?

• Commedia may have evolved out of Ancient Roman Comedy.

• Commedia is fast, physical comedy that is performed in the streets of towns, courtyards of inns, and in homes of the wealthy.

Who were the actors?

• Professional companies of 7 men and 3 women.• First women actors to play women’s roles.• Actors needed to be able to:1. Sing2. Dance3. Do improvisational acting.4. Fight5. Do acrobatics

What did the performances look like?

• Shows were improvisational in the streets.• Actors used a highly physical style of comedy -

(think Jim Carey in his early films)• Plots resembled TV sitcoms of today.• Acting Companies would use the same

characters ( stock) in every play. • Actors would specialize in one character and

play if for the length of their career.

Masks – everybody wears them

Rude Comedy is Not A New Idea..

Neither is the Happy Ending…..

The Comic Archetypes

• #1 The Innocents ( straight characters)• #2 The Trickster (a servant characters)• #3 The Fool ( a servant characters)• #4 The Know-It-All ( a master character)• #5 The Scrooge ( a master character)• #6 The Braggart ( a master character)

Comic Stock Character- Archetype #1

The Innocent ( Straight Characters)Also known as the Innamorati ( lovers)

• Often at the center of the plot, the protagonist.• Not aware of the true nature of the world• Naïve and/or sentimental• Innocence comes from a lack of knowledge or

experience, not from a lack of intelligence.• Idealistic and good natured.• Often dependant on parents or guardians.

The Innocents

The Lovers

Innocents you might recognize:

• Often at the center of the plot, the protagonist.

• Not aware of the true nature of the world

• Naïve and/or sentimental• Innocence comes from a lack

of knowledge or experience, not from a lack of intelligence.

• Idealistic and good natured.• Often dependant on parents

or guardians.

Comic Stock Character – Archetype #2

The Trickster ( A Servant)

• Helps or hinders the innocent• Makes thing happen, a catalyst for action

• Willing to bend society’s rules• Clever, witty, and/or unscrupulous• Takes advantage of situations

• Schemes or plots.

Columbina

Tricksters you might recognize:

• Helps or hinders the innocent• Makes thing happen, a catalyst for action• Willing to bend society’s rules• Clever, witty, and/or unscrupulous• Takes advantage of situations• Schemes or plots.

Comic Stock Character – Archetype #3

The Fool ( A Servant)• Often a helper or sidekick• May solve problems by dumb luck• Exaggerated version of the Innocents• Unpredictable, with a distorted

conception of reality.

Harlequin/Arlecchino

Pierrot

Fools you might recognize:

• Often a helper or sidekick

• May solve problems by dumb luck

• Exaggerated version of the Innocents

• Unpredictable, with a distorted conception of reality.

Comic Stock Character – Archetype #4

The Know-It-All ( A Master)• Shows off supposed knowledge• Tries to act and sound as important as possible• Assumes to know everything about everything• Can be pompous and/or condescending.

Il Dottore

Know-It-Alls you might recognize:• Shows off supposed

knowledge

• Tries to act and sound as important as possible

• Assumes to know everything about everything

• Can be pompous and/or condescending.

Comic Stock Character – Archetype #5

• The Scrooge ( A Master)

• Often the antagonist• Usually an authority figure• Miserly with money, possessions,

and/or emotions• Often mean-spirited, cranky, or ill-tempered.

Pantalone

Scrooges you might recognize:

• Often the antagonist

• Usually an authority figure

• Miserly with money, possessions, and/or emotions

• Often mean-spirited, cranky, or ill-tempered

Comic Stock Character – Archetype #6

• The Braggart ( A Master)• Assumes the ability to do anything.• Believes that he is strong and handsome.• A show off.• Given to loud and empty boasting.• A cowardly bully.

Il Capitano

Braggarts you might recognize:• Assumes the ability to do anything.

• Believes that he is strong and handsome.

• A show off.

• Given to loud and empty boasting.

• A cowardly bully.