The lesson/performance by Marco Luly will present a series of skits (some taken from traditional scenarios, some from Goldoni or Moliere or Shakespeare comedies, some improvised with the audience), as well as the main and most important stock characters of Commedia dell’ Arte such as Pantalone, Arlecchino, Zanni, Pulcinella, etc…
Background:
Commedia dell'Arte is a form of theatre which originated in Italy in the 16th century and quickly spread all across Europe, playing a crucial role in the development of Western Theatre. Playwrights who have been influenced by this style include Shakespeare, Moliere and Goldoni to name a few. It is still popular today and can be found even in movies and on TV.
The main features and tasks of Commedia dell’ Arte are:
- the role of stock characters, the use of mask, mime techniques, improvisation, lots of humour, appealing to audiences of all ages.
- group work, body break out, body mastering, expressing feelings, space mastering.
Masks.
Masks teach the student awareness and control of the movement and gesture. The masks demand that the student becomes aware of the essential gestures as well as aware of those not essential, and thus distracting. The mask enlarges the performer to a higher level of projection and playing. It demands clarity of intention and precision of gesture and voice.
As this form of theatre uses a great deal of movement and mime, language is not such an important factor, making this ideal for students/audiences who come from different languages and cultural backgrounds.
www.luoghidellarte.com
