Commedia dell'Arte: Understanding and Performing Italian Masked Theatre, Study Guides, Projects, Research of Theatre

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COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE

The Italian tradition of masked theatre

GOALS

• develop students’ understanding of a theatrical

genre

• use mask and movement confidently
• develop confidence for performance

TECHNIQUES

The techniques which are covered in the lessons for this unit include:

• centre of weight
• clocking the audience
• commedia dell’arte
• mask work
• passing the focus.

Lesson 1 : Physical characterisation

• Warm Up Games
• Topic Overview: Commedia Dell’Arte
• Creating exaggerated stock characters – The Simpsons
• Body Language; Physically/vocally creating a familiar character (no words)
• Improvise interactions IN CHARACTER
• Improvise scenes with a beginning, middle & end (think about how power dynamics change, think about audience sightlines, think about how to let plot and action flow from character.)
• Perform
• Feedback
• Wind down games L.O: Understand that characters can be non-realistic and still communicate; understand how the body can be a tool for expression Success Criteria: you understand SEMIOTICS and you can use your body language, facial expression & vocalisation to create a recognisable stock character familiar to your audience. HOMEWORK: In your Drama Exercise Book, write a paragraph reflecting on what we did in this lesson. RESEARCH: What is ‘Commedia Dell’Arte’?. FIND A MASK & BRING IT IN.

SEMIOTICS

noun, ( used with a singular verb)

• 1. the study of signs and symbols as

elements of communicative behavior; the

analysis of systems of communication, as

language, gestures, or clothing.

• 2. a general theory of signs and symbolism,

usually divided into the branches of

pragmatics, semantics, and syntactics.

Character and Expression

Simpsons characters

• Bart
• Homer
• Marge
• Maggie
• Lisa
• Grandpa
• Krusty
• Sideshow Bob
  • Mr Burns
  • Smithers
  • Mo (bar)
  • Comic Book Guy
  • Itchy & Scratchy

What have we learned?

• Drama is divided into: MAKING, PERFORMANCE & RESPONDING
• BODY LANGUAGE – CREATING CHARACTERS THROUGH USE OF MOVEMENT
• SEMIOTICS! MEANING COMMUNICATED THROUGH SYMBOLS
• DRAMA GAMES.

WHAT IS COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE?

• It’s an Italian tradition
• It started in the 16 th century
• It means comedy of craft
• It’s a form of theatrical entertainment
• Started in streets and market places
• It uses masks
• It’s based on stock characters
• Responsible for the advent of actresses
• It’s based on sketches
• It uses IMPROVISATION

Playing a Commedia character…

• Walk into the space and clock the audience
• See something on the floor that you want
• Look left, right and at the audience to see

if it belongs to anyone

• Pick up the item and use it as necessary
• Leave the space and clock the audience

once more

Possible trip!

WEDNESDAY 4

TH

FEBRUARY

TICKETS 15,

SHILLINGS

(WOULD BE MORE IF WE

USE THE SCHOOL BUS)

PERFORMANCE 7.30-

Power: Servants & Masters

• Commedia Dell’Arte characters have very clearly defined roles within a hierarchy that reflects real life society.
• Some are servants (Zanni), some are masters (Vecchi).
• How much power and confidence a character has depends on who they are with on stage – a boss servant (Brighella) will behave one way to his master, and a very different way to the lower servant (Zanni). Lesson 3

Lesson 3: Power, Servants & Masters

• Intro – National Theatre short films Whole class activity:
• (Practice different physical characters) Group activity:
• Create ‘A servant of two masters’ sketch with The Doctor, Pantelone & one Zanni.
• Rehearse.
• Perform &critique if time LO: Embodying Commedia Stock characters http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqlfTG40RUI&list=PLiaQ0bYshVLDTNkmI1w9RUp_yaI46OTx Success criteria: can you portray at least 2 different commedia characters?