Plays
Though by definition Commedia Dell'arte is improvisation, several works are considered to have elements and were deeply influenced by the movement. Below you will find some well written scenarios from the movement as well as plays that were influenced by it.
Cone, T. (1980). Servant of two masters / by Carlo Goldoni ; a new version by tom cone. New York: Samuel French Inc.
[812.5 C756s] Deck 6 WAWL
Servant of Two Masters is often referred to when one is talking about Commedia Dell'arte. It is a favorite
of many studying the period because it involves a lot of the stage gags necessary in a Commedia Dell'arte. The plot involves a servant, played by the stock character,Arlecchino, his name in this play is Truffaldino, and his follies in trying to serve two masters. The play involves a lot of "lazzi" and "robbe" that are significant of this movement
Clark, B. (1933). World drama: An anthology. (Vol.1, pp. 337-350). New York: Dover Publications. Retrieved from http://www.unz.org/Pub/ClarkBarrett-1933-00337
Available online at:http://www.unz.org/Pub/ClarkBarrett-1933-00337
The play to pay attention to in this anthology is The Farce of the Worthy Master Pierre Patelin. Though this play was probably printed in the 15th century and is from France, it contains a lot of the elements that are so important in Commedia Dell'arte. It contains a great deal of physicality known as "lazzi" in Commedia Dell'arte. However most of the physicality has to be improvised by the actor and director due to the vague stage directions. The length of the play would ideally fit the traveling style of the troops that toured during the period.
Machiavelli, N. (1978). The mandrake / by Niccolò Machiavelli ; translated by Wallace Shawn. New York: Dramatists Play Service.
[852.3 M184m] Deck 6 WAWL
"The play takes place in a 24-hour period. The protagonist, Callimaco, desires to sleep with Lucrezia, the young and beautiful wife of an elderly fool, Nicia. Nicia above all else desires a son and heir, but still has none. Callimaco, conspiring with a rascally marriage broker and a priest, masquerades as a doctor. He convinces Nicia to drug Lucrezia with mandrake, claiming it will increase her fertility. He adds, however, the dire warning that the mandrake will undoubtedly kill the first man to have intercourse with her. Callimaco helpfully suggests to Nicia that an unwitting fool be found for this purpose. A reluctant Lucrezia is eventually convinced by her mother and the priest to comply with her husband's wishes. She allows a disguised Callimaco into her bed and, believing that the events which caused her to break her marriage vows were due to divine providence, thereafter accepts him as her lover on a more permanent basis." (Wikipedia, 2012)
Moilere. (1955). The misanthrope; comedy in five acts, 1666, done into English verse by Richard Wilbur. drawings by Enrico Arno. New York: Harcourt, Brace.
[842.4 M73m1w] Deck 6 WAWL
" Alceste denounces humanity, declaring that “all are corrupt” and scorning even Philinte, his friend,for his studied duplicity. He offends Oronte, a highly placed courtier, because he refuses to praise his sonnet, but he cannot resist the lovely and witty Célimène, who embodies everything he claims to detest. Her door is always open, and she entertains her guests, including two of Alceste’srivals, Acaste and Clitandre, by performing disparaging impressions of people they know.Competing with her is Arsinoé, who assures Célimène that she has defended her against others’ slanderous accusations of immorality but then drags Alceste off to prove to him that his lady love has betrayed him. Alceste is furious with Célimène and utterly rejects her assurance that the “love letter” Arsinoé shows him was actually a letter of friendship written to a woman friend. Philintetells the innocent Eliante how Alceste lost his suit against Oronte, but just when it seems that Célimène will reveal whom she really loves, Acaste and Clitandre barge in to read letters they havereceived from the lady that belittles every man who is paying court to her, including Alceste.Oronte, Acaste and Clitandre march out of her house, but when Alceste makes one last attempt to persuade her to run away with him, she dismisses the very idea of leaving society."
Scala, F. (2004). La fortunata Isabella: Translated by Talia Felix. Retrieved from http://sites.google.com/site/italiancommedia/plays-and-scenari/la-fortunata-isabella
Available online at:http://sites.google.com/site/italiancommedia/plays-and-scenari/la-fortunata-isabella
This is a traditional scenario from the Commedia Dell'arte period. Notice that is has no lines only "guidelines" for the actor to follow. It uses stock characters, props, and lazzi. This is a good example of what the Commedia Dell'arte actor had for material
Shakespeare, W. (1969). The tempest / edited by Frank Kermode. (6 ed.). London: Methuen.
[822.33 Teke6] Deck 6 WAWL
"The Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1610–11. It is set on a remote island, where Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place, using illusion and skilful manipulation. The eponymous tempest brings to the island Prospero's usurping brother Antonio and the complicit Alonso, King of Naples. There, his machinations bring about the revelation of Antonio's low nature, the redemption of Alonso, and the marriage of Miranda to Alonso's son, Ferdinand" (Wikipedia, 2012)
Suzuki, J. (1993). The red hat: A Commedia Dell'arte scenario. Retrieved from http://math.bu.edu/people/jeffs/scenario.html
Available online at: http://math.bu.edu/people/jeffs/scenario.html
This is a traditional scenario from the Commedia Dell'arte period. Notice that is has no lines only "guidelines" for the actor to follow. It uses stock characters, props, and lazzi. This is a good example of what the Commedia Dell'arte actor had for material
Cone, T. (1980). Servant of two masters / by Carlo Goldoni ; a new version by tom cone. New York: Samuel French Inc.
[812.5 C756s] Deck 6 WAWL
Servant of Two Masters is often referred to when one is talking about Commedia Dell'arte. It is a favorite
of many studying the period because it involves a lot of the stage gags necessary in a Commedia Dell'arte. The plot involves a servant, played by the stock character,Arlecchino, his name in this play is Truffaldino, and his follies in trying to serve two masters. The play involves a lot of "lazzi" and "robbe" that are significant of this movement
Clark, B. (1933). World drama: An anthology. (Vol.1, pp. 337-350). New York: Dover Publications. Retrieved from http://www.unz.org/Pub/ClarkBarrett-1933-00337
Available online at:http://www.unz.org/Pub/ClarkBarrett-1933-00337
The play to pay attention to in this anthology is The Farce of the Worthy Master Pierre Patelin. Though this play was probably printed in the 15th century and is from France, it contains a lot of the elements that are so important in Commedia Dell'arte. It contains a great deal of physicality known as "lazzi" in Commedia Dell'arte. However most of the physicality has to be improvised by the actor and director due to the vague stage directions. The length of the play would ideally fit the traveling style of the troops that toured during the period.
Machiavelli, N. (1978). The mandrake / by Niccolò Machiavelli ; translated by Wallace Shawn. New York: Dramatists Play Service.
[852.3 M184m] Deck 6 WAWL
"The play takes place in a 24-hour period. The protagonist, Callimaco, desires to sleep with Lucrezia, the young and beautiful wife of an elderly fool, Nicia. Nicia above all else desires a son and heir, but still has none. Callimaco, conspiring with a rascally marriage broker and a priest, masquerades as a doctor. He convinces Nicia to drug Lucrezia with mandrake, claiming it will increase her fertility. He adds, however, the dire warning that the mandrake will undoubtedly kill the first man to have intercourse with her. Callimaco helpfully suggests to Nicia that an unwitting fool be found for this purpose. A reluctant Lucrezia is eventually convinced by her mother and the priest to comply with her husband's wishes. She allows a disguised Callimaco into her bed and, believing that the events which caused her to break her marriage vows were due to divine providence, thereafter accepts him as her lover on a more permanent basis." (Wikipedia, 2012)
Moilere. (1955). The misanthrope; comedy in five acts, 1666, done into English verse by Richard Wilbur. drawings by Enrico Arno. New York: Harcourt, Brace.
[842.4 M73m1w] Deck 6 WAWL
" Alceste denounces humanity, declaring that “all are corrupt” and scorning even Philinte, his friend,for his studied duplicity. He offends Oronte, a highly placed courtier, because he refuses to praise his sonnet, but he cannot resist the lovely and witty Célimène, who embodies everything he claims to detest. Her door is always open, and she entertains her guests, including two of Alceste’srivals, Acaste and Clitandre, by performing disparaging impressions of people they know.Competing with her is Arsinoé, who assures Célimène that she has defended her against others’ slanderous accusations of immorality but then drags Alceste off to prove to him that his lady love has betrayed him. Alceste is furious with Célimène and utterly rejects her assurance that the “love letter” Arsinoé shows him was actually a letter of friendship written to a woman friend. Philintetells the innocent Eliante how Alceste lost his suit against Oronte, but just when it seems that Célimène will reveal whom she really loves, Acaste and Clitandre barge in to read letters they havereceived from the lady that belittles every man who is paying court to her, including Alceste.Oronte, Acaste and Clitandre march out of her house, but when Alceste makes one last attempt to persuade her to run away with him, she dismisses the very idea of leaving society."
Scala, F. (2004). La fortunata Isabella: Translated by Talia Felix. Retrieved from http://sites.google.com/site/italiancommedia/plays-and-scenari/la-fortunata-isabella
Available online at:http://sites.google.com/site/italiancommedia/plays-and-scenari/la-fortunata-isabella
This is a traditional scenario from the Commedia Dell'arte period. Notice that is has no lines only "guidelines" for the actor to follow. It uses stock characters, props, and lazzi. This is a good example of what the Commedia Dell'arte actor had for material
Shakespeare, W. (1969). The tempest / edited by Frank Kermode. (6 ed.). London: Methuen.
[822.33 Teke6] Deck 6 WAWL
"The Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1610–11. It is set on a remote island, where Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place, using illusion and skilful manipulation. The eponymous tempest brings to the island Prospero's usurping brother Antonio and the complicit Alonso, King of Naples. There, his machinations bring about the revelation of Antonio's low nature, the redemption of Alonso, and the marriage of Miranda to Alonso's son, Ferdinand" (Wikipedia, 2012)
Suzuki, J. (1993). The red hat: A Commedia Dell'arte scenario. Retrieved from http://math.bu.edu/people/jeffs/scenario.html
Available online at: http://math.bu.edu/people/jeffs/scenario.html
This is a traditional scenario from the Commedia Dell'arte period. Notice that is has no lines only "guidelines" for the actor to follow. It uses stock characters, props, and lazzi. This is a good example of what the Commedia Dell'arte actor had for material