Concept information
Preferred term
2274Commedia dell'arte
Broader concept
Scope note
- Form of improvised comedy that evolved in 16th-century Italy by professional actors, as opposed to the amateurs of the scholarly commedia erudita. Commedia's performances were based on skeletal scenarios, always very sketchy, that were not written in advance by a playwright, but were the collective creation of actors improvising words and gestures. Its main innovation was the employment of fixed types (tipi fissi), that were repeated from one play to another, with stereotypical features and behaviour, costumes and masks that covered half the face, leaving the mouth uncovered. Grouped in homogeneous troupes, the actors travelled throughout Europe and this theatre of the actor went on to enjoy success, becoming its main entertainment. This form of theatre had major influence on dramaturgy and theatre practice.
Source
- Richards & Richards 2006
- Rudlin 1994
Contributor
- Vernardaki Eleni (AA)
Creator
- Goulis Helen (AA)
Notation
- 2274
In other languages
-
French
-
German
-
Greek
URI
https://humanitiesthesaurus.academyofathens.gr/dyas-resource/Concept/2274
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