Historical Profiles

History….really?!?!

What do we have to do?

• 1) Get assigned time period– Greece, French, Russian, American…..

• 2) Read through• 3) Outline• 4) Research• 5) Present• 6) Rehearse• 7) Perform

I got COMMEDIA??

• Well, no…. but here’s what you’ll do• Packet is in 2 pieces– History– Performance

• READ IT! Become accustomed with the information!

What’s an Outline???

• Read through packet…make information into an outline. An outline looks like this:

I. Introa. Means “unwritten or improvised theatre”b. From Italyc. Came about it in the 1500s

II. Charactersa. Stock characters such as pantalone, flamina, orazio, franceschinab. Each had a mask to represent their characterc. Same characters in each show

III. Scenariosa. Standard scenarios with improvised dialogue

I have to do RESEARCH?

• YES! It’s fun!• There’s WAY more to your subject than what’s

in your packet! Find it!!• Computer lab– Find pictures, videos, activities and anything that

you want to add to your presentation to make us LOVE it!

• Use your new information in your presentation

PRESENT?? We have to present?

• RELAX! It’s awesome! Here’s what you need to include in your presentation

• Most important information you have found• Some sort of visually engaging way to present the

information– Video, power point, poster, etc… BE CREATIVE!

• Provide an activity to help teach what the theatre style was like– Game, performance, project, etc…

• Write a quiz! 5-10 questions!– Make sure it’s important– pass off your questions with Mrs.

McKinnon first!

Now’s the even better part…

• NOW YOU GET TO PERFORM• Each historical time period has a script to a

show from that time period. You get to perform it!

• Requirements? Same as usual..– Costume– representation of your time period– Memorized– Interesting set

Confused?? Want an example??

Background• Beginning during the Renaissance (1500s) and lasting into the

eighteenth century, traveling troupes performed the commedia dell' arte, the Italian comedy. Starting in Italy, troupes moved into all of Europe, influencing theatre in Spain, Holland, Germany, Austria, England, and especially, France. The company's ten or more actors each developed a specific type of character, such as the Captain, two old men (Pantaloon and the Doctor), the Zanni (valet-buffoons). Since all wore masks, their roles were eventually called masks. Along with these comic characters were the lovers. Female parts were originally played by men, but later played by females. The actors had specific comic business (lazzi, which is our form of slapstick) that they developed. Before going on-stage, actors would agree on a basic plot and a general idea of how it should be performed. The improvised performances were never subtle; the humor was often bawdy and coarse.

Characters• The characters or “masks,” in spite of changes over the years, retained

much of their original flavor. • Arlecchino, or Harlequin

– Most important character in commedia dellárte, the zanni, or servant types. He was an acrobat, witty and childlike. He wore a catlike mask and motley colored clothes and carried a bat or wooden sword, the ancestor of the slapstick.

• Brighella– The Zanni’s crony. Was more roguish and sophisticated, a cowardly villain who

would do anything for money. • Pulcinella

– Was a dwarfish humpback with a crooked nose, the cruel bachelor who chased pretty girls.

• Pantalone – Was a caricature of the Venetian merchant, rich and retired, mean and miserly,

with a young wife or an adventurous daughter. • Dottore (the doctor)

– Pantolone’s only friend, was a caricature of learning—pompous and fraudulent.

• Il Capitano (the captain) – Was a caricature of the professional soldier—bold,

swaggering, and cowardly. He was replaced by the more agile

• Inamorato (the lover)– Handsome. Went by many names. He wore no

mask and had to be eloquent in order to speak the love declamations.

• The Inamorata – Was his female counterpart

Let’s try it out

•

Do we have modern day examples?

• Oh yeah!– SNL• Unscripted

– Friends– Seinfeld

Quiz• 1. In what country did Commedia originate?• 2. Around what time can they say it started?• 3. How did they originally perform these

plays?• 4. How was it scripted?• 5. Name 3 of the more prominent characters

in commedia.

Ready to do your own?

GO