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Question: What CONTRIBUTION has commedia dell 'arte made to the theatre world!?
Its an assignment in drama and im stuck, i dont know what to write!. Pleasee help!! Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
It was the first time women appeared on stage in Western Theatre!. Admittedly in stereotyped roles: young lover, pert maidservant, old crone etc!. And there were typically only 3 or 4 women in a Commedia troupe of 12-16 strong!. But it was a start!.

Commedia was known as the Comedie Italienne, when it spread to France (as opposed to the Comedie Francaise)!. It had a huge influence on the work of Moliere!.

When it spread to England it evolved into the modern pantomime and the Punch and Judy puppet show!. Even Shakespeare knew his Commedia: the lean and slippered Pantaloon referred to in the Seven Ages of Man speech is clearly a reference to Pantalone, the stock "Old Fool" character of the Commedia!.

Use of masks, elaborate gestures, and a show built on improvisation, which would vary from night to night, as the actors ad-libbed their way through the scenario!. These are the trademarks of a Commedia!. The Marx Brothers buult their film scripts in much the same way, sending the show out on the road for a few months to get it right before making a film out of it!.

The best-known modern interpreters of the Commedia tradition are the San Francisco Mime Troupe, whose material is played in the parks and public spaces of California!. Look up their website for more details!.

And read a theatre history book, I suggest!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

commedia dell'arte made a massive impact on the theatre world, i mean just think of the good old slapstick comedy, that wouldn't even exist without the help from arlecchino!. ahh good old commedia dell'arte, for more help for your drama assigment, just look on the internet there would be heaps of info on there :)

good luck with your assigment, i hope you get a good grade on it!Www@QuestionHome@Com

1!.) Stock characters (think of them as characters who get spinoffs, like how Joey from Friends got his own show, or Frasier from Cheers)!. Same character, different setting!.

2!.) ImprovisationWww@QuestionHome@Com

ah comedia dell 'arte
i did servant of two masters two years ago!.

i know this doesn't answer your question,
i just thought i'd say that!.

lol!.Www@QuestionHome@Com