Influences on Modern Day
Commedia Del'Arte's unique physical, comedic and improvisational style has transcended throughout centuries of theatre to significantly influences numerous styles, practitioners, and actors in their methods of performance. It's multifaceted conventions and characters contribute to some of the most well known productions ever made.
Edward Gordon Craig
Edward Gordon Craig (16 January 1872 – 29 July 1966), a very well known English modernist practitioner, was influenced by notions of the mask, founding the first international theatre magazine in it’s name. He also founded schools in The Arena Goldoni in Florence from 1907-14, where he advocated the movement of the human body.
he had a method which consisted of:
These notions were all heavily influenced by Commedia Dell’Arte and Edwards acting school is only one example of numerous throughout the globe.
he had a method which consisted of:
- Principles of Movement of the Human Body
- Principles individually and in groups
- Principles governing action, scene and voice.
- Improvisation with and without words.
These notions were all heavily influenced by Commedia Dell’Arte and Edwards acting school is only one example of numerous throughout the globe.
Silent Film
Actors such as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd were ginormous stars in their fields of silent film throughout the early-mid 1900's, and they all utilised unique, and recognisable characters that had distinct costumes, facial expression, postures, and personalities. This closely mirrors the conventions of Commedia Dell’Arte as each mask had unique traits which would make them easily identified. Furthermore, the slapstick element of comedic acts that are commonplace for many silent film characters link them once again to Commedia.
- Charlie Chaplin’s character The “Little Tramp”: wore baggy pants, oversized shoes, a bowler hat, a toothbrush mustache, and carried a bam- boo cane. Outside the United States, the character was known as “Char- lot” – a clear descendent of Arlecchino. Charlie also used improvisation regularly as it was crucial to devising scenes and actions for his character.
- Buster Keaton's unconventionally unexpressive character was a trademark of his style. His lack of reaction to extraordinary events added to the comedy and his continued use of physical lazzi allowed for the comedic progression of his skits. In his earlier films, Keaton's acrobatic deadpan (emotionally wooden) act contrasted extremely effectively with "Fatty" Arbuckle's big and clumsy character, in a classic "Brighella and Arlecchino" combination.
Improvised Comedy
in the mid to late 1900's, improvised comedy was becoming increasingly popular with the famous "Second City Company" travelling across the US with their unique style of performance. They would take audience suggestions during live shows and improvise short skits, amazing audiences with their clever integrations of often tricky suggestions. Eventually many of the troupe's core actors were involved in the newly produced show "Saturday Night Live" (1975). which was to become a massive hit on screens around the US. The roots of this physical, and on the spot comedy stems back to Commedia Del'Arte, and thus it's timeless value materialises within even the most modern of contexts.
Other Improvised comedy influenced by Commedia include the "Upright Citizens Brigade" The group specialized in an improvisation style known as “The Harold,” a method of 30-45 minute improvised scene. It was similar to the scenarios used by commedia dell’arte troupes, although it was less plot-oriented and more structural.
A common structure for The Harold method of improvising is as follows:
Upright Citizens Brigade alumni include Will Ferrell, Seth Rogen, Seth Myers, and Sarah Silverman.
Other Improvised comedy influenced by Commedia include the "Upright Citizens Brigade" The group specialized in an improvisation style known as “The Harold,” a method of 30-45 minute improvised scene. It was similar to the scenarios used by commedia dell’arte troupes, although it was less plot-oriented and more structural.
A common structure for The Harold method of improvising is as follows:
- Taking a broad suggestion from the audience for the theme, the opening is an improvised scene or theatre game using the entire company
- Three unrelated two-person scenes (A, B, and C) which each build off the opening in some way (similar location, similar theme, similar characters, etc.)
- Another group theatre game for the whole company
- A return of the two-person scenes (A, B, and C), exploring the characters and plots further
- One last group game
- A final return to the two-person scenes, combining characters, de- tails and themes from everything that has gone before
Upright Citizens Brigade alumni include Will Ferrell, Seth Rogen, Seth Myers, and Sarah Silverman.