Commedia dell’arte is a performance style that originated in Italy emphasizing pantomime, improvisation, and ensemble acting, using over the top movements to accentuate emotions on a bare stage. Although shows presented by commedia dell’arte troupes were improvisations they were heavily influenced using an array of stock situations along with very well-developed masks (characters). Commedia dell’arte masks have molded the creation of characters from William Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice” to
Many people attribute the beginnings of ballet to be associated with the art form of Commedia Dell’Arte. While ballet has it’s roots associated with the comic art form, different elements unique to Commedia Dell’Arte influenced ballet artists, dancers, and choreographers well after the performance of Commedia Dell’Arte died. Commedia Dell’Arte was not only important to the creation of ballet, but to the inspiration of many ballets and choreographic works throughout history. Commedia Dell’Arte was
The University Playhouse’s performance of The Dispute displayed a conglomeration of Greek, Elizabethan, and French Neoclassical staging conventions. This comedy balanced out elements of presentational theatre and non-localized sets reminiscent of Greek theatre with representational theatre and localized sets resonant of Elizabethan theatre. The presence of elements of comedy, Farce, Satire, and the use of deus ex machina within the play utilized French Neoclassical staging conventions adopted from
Cognoscere est esse (laten), To know is to be.A great defining quotes from Tommaso Campanella (1568-1639). Defines the renaissance. The renaissance was a time of rebirth. Art, Ideas, Way of life. They all changed. Neoclassicism new/old ideas emerged. The people became enlightened once again. This was one age of new light the rebirth from the “dark ages” they discovered new/old ideas that were lost. There were also inventions that were important at this time like the printing press. The printing was
Around the same time that Commedia dell’Arte began gaining in popularity, one of the most famous playwrights, William Shakespeare, was born. It would be ignorant to say that this form of theatre did not influence Shakespeare’s work. While there is no record of William Shakespeare ever attending a Commedia Dell’Arte performance, nuances and pattern are clearly evident in his work. Shakespeare is only credited with two Italian comedies, Much Ado and Two Gentleman of Verona. However, one Shakespeare