Commedia Packet
Commedia Characters ZANNI (The Servants) Arlecchino: The Conniving Goofball
Posture: Subservient but athletic: Immediately hunches over or becomes physically lower when someone more important is around, always falling, tripping, flailing, somersaulting, etc. Animal Image: Monkey Character Traits: • Scheming: Loves to come up with complicated plans (that usually don’t turn out very well) • Not Too Bright: A lot of his comedy comes from misunderstanding what goes on around him. • Impulsive: Doesn’t think before he acts Fun Facts: • Always carried a “slapstick” • Loves to wear disguises (sometimes will even disguise himself as a girl!) • Madly in love with Columbina (or whatever girl happens to be walking by at the moment). Favorite Lazzi: • Finds some way to lose an appendage, usually his hand which goes flying out towards the audience. • Likes to stick his head through people’s legs, arms or over their shoulder. • Uses other characters as a shield whenever possible. • “Loses control” and flails around wildly like an octopus on ice. • Delivering a message from one person to another, and getting it wrong. • Likes to scream whenever injured or upset and continue the incredible and unbelievable rant until either silenced or knocked unconscious. • Slides across stage area whenever possible in making entrances or exits. • Likes to add his own thoughts or opinions to messages or orders. • Misuses props, or uses them not for their intended purposes as much as possible. Contemporary Examples: • Homer Simpson (The Simpsons) • Andy Dwyer (Parks and Rec) • Patrick Star (SpongeBob) • Phil Dumphy (Modern Family)
1
Commedia Packet
ZANNI (The Servants) Columbina: The Clever Maid Posture: Stands up very straight when she’s “on the job” receiving instructions from her master. When she’s around other servants or gossiping with a female innamorati, she can stand with a hip out to the side or be “flirty” with her body language. Animal Image: Birds. If she is older, a Hawk. If she is younger, a Dove. Could also play with other types of birds (owl, parakeet) when you are making your choice of animal. Character Traits: • Capable: Whether she is old and bossy or young and meddling, she is always intelligent and good at her job. • Compassionate: usually the “best friend” of female innamorati, she often does sneaky things to help people out. • Meddling: always in the middle of things, trying to solve problems and help out, often with hilarious results Fun Facts: • She’s sometimes the servant of Pantalone, sometimes the servant of an Innamorati, sometimes the wife of Arlechino, and sometimes an independent character (but always a servant or low status character) • Columbina can be played as an older, bossier type of maid, or a younger, more mischievous type. At any age, she is never afraid to flirt! • Some other names by which Columbina has been known throughout the centuries: Franceschina, Smeraldina, Oliva, Nespola, Spinetta, Ricciolina, Corallina, Diamantina, Lisetta, Francesquina, Licetta, Tiffia, Gitta, Betta, Gneva, and Nina
Favorite Lazzi: • Showing up just before her name is called, as if she is one step ahead of master. • She finishes sentences for her master, sometimes putting in the ending she wants instead of what her master was actually going to say. • When a situation gets out of control, she becomes the one in charge and fixes everything. • She beats up on the male characters, sometimes even her master. • She asks other characters to tell her how important she is.
Contemporary Equivalents: • Marge Simpson (The Simpsons) • Sandy the Squirrel (SpongeBob) • Donna (Parks and Recreation) • Claire Dumphy (Modern Family)
2
Commedia Packet
VECCI (The Old Men) Pantalone: The Crotchety Old Miser Posture: Bent over with old age, all angles and sharp corners. Usually uses a cane and moves very slowly, but can be quick when he is angry. Animal Image: Chicken, Turkey, Stork, or Hermit Crab Character Traits: • Miserly: Has a lot of money, but never wants to spend or share it. • Gullible: Often tricked by El Dottore, the Zanni, or even the Innamorati. • Bossy: He is the highest-‐status character, and expect everyone to do what he tells them too, immediately. Fun Facts: • Pantalone often tries to appear younger than he is, usually while flirting with female characters (even his son’s love interest). • Is usually in charge of a business but doesn’t do any work himself. • Thinks Il Dottore is his best, most trustworthy friend. Favorite Lazzi: • Falls over when shocked or frightened and can’t get up again on his own. • Chases his servant or son when mad. • Flirts with women who are too young for him. • Injures himself while throwing a fit. • Often incorporated into the Lazzi of other characters, usually as the subject of ridicule. Contemporary Examples: • Mr. Burns (the Simpsons) • Jay Pritchet (Modern Family) • Mr. Krabs (SpongeBob) • Mr. Gold (Once Upon a Time) •
3
Commedia Packet
VECCI (The Old Men) Il Dottore: The Quack Posture: If he is being played as over-‐fed, he stands with his belly forward. If he is being played as over-‐groomed he stands very tall with his upper-‐body forward. Either way he makes huge gestures with his hands when he speaks.
Animal Image: Pig (if he is over-‐fed), Lizard (if he is over-‐groomed), Owl
Character Traits: • Know-‐it-‐All: Thinks he knows everything about everything and will go on at great length about it, even when he really has no idea what he’s talking about • Greedy: Always looking for a way he can profit from the situation. • Incompetent: When he cures a patient, it usually makes them worse.
Fun Facts: • Pantalone’s “frenimie.” Usually pretends to be his best friend though he is really more interested in Pantalone’s wealth than his friendship. Often the two of them play the fathers of the two young lovers. • Can be played as old and fat or old and fancy, but is always an old man. • Doesn’t always have to be played as a doctor of medicine (could be a lawyer, etc.), but always makes situations worse by pretending to know more than he really does.
Favorite Lazzi: • Uses “Malapropisms,” where he says a word that sounds like the one he really meant, but means something completely different. • Goes on at great length about something no one cares about. • Believes someone suffers from an ailment which they obviously do not. Offers to cure them. • Spontaneously diagnoses performers on stage. • Tries to enlist assistance to help him perform experimental surgeries on himself and others. • Performs random experiments in the name of science and medicine. • Is usually trying to make and get people to try strange potions. • Accidentally takes his own medicine. • Having very large and frighteningly humorous medical instruments. • Schemes of ways to seem like he is wealthier than Pantalone. Contemporary Examples: • Dr. Nick (the Simpsons) • Dr. Spaceman (30 Rock) • Sqidward (SpongeBob)
4
Commedia Packet
Innamoratti (the Young Lovers)
Flavio: The Handsome Young Jock Posture: Very proud and upright, but not very grounded or as heavy as Il Capitano. Usually expresses his emotions very physically, so he is very “up” when he is happy and in love, and totally deflates when he is sad or has been rejected. Animal Image: Lion Cub Character Traits: • Self-‐Obsessed: Always posing and checking out his muscles. • Melodramatic: Enjoys “suffering” for his love almost as much as being in love. Loves to let everyone know how miserable he is. • Clueless: So self-‐absorbed and lost in his own little world that he’s not really aware of what’s going on around him or how things really work. Fun Facts: • Usually has his servants handle anything that actually requires thinking or doing work. • There is always an obstacle to being with the one he loves, but sometimes that obstacle is a very small one that he turns into a big one so he will have a reason to be melodramatic about it. • Usually good a sports or other physical activities. Favorite Lazzi: • Uses servants to communicate with his love interest, even when she is in the room. Usually the servants get the message wrong. • Gets very nervous around his love interest and starts to mumble, say stupid things, or do something physically awkward. • When his father (usually Pantalone) asks him to do something he usually gets distracted by something he considers to be more fun or exciting. • Hot tempered, always wants to defend the honor of someone in order to get into a fight. Usually hopes for others to hold him back or talk him out of it. • Tries to bully anyone that he can. • Woos his lady with ridiculously flower language and bad poetry. • Trips or falls while trying to look cool, calm and collected. • Loses his temper and throws a fit like a spoiled brat.
Contemporary Equivalents • Nelson (The Simpsons) • Cam (Modern Family) • Chris Traeger (Parks and Recreation) • Jake Peralta (Brooklyn 99) • Gale Hawthorne (Hunger Games) 5
Commedia Packet
Innamoratti (the Young Lovers) Lelio: The Finicky Wimp Posture: Very prim and propper, almost feminine, leaning back with his upper body at times. As though he is afraid he will get dirty. Animal Image: Butterfly Character Traits: • Vain: Can’t pass a reflective surface without checking himself out. • Nervous: Jumps at shadows, prefers to admire his woman from afar, as he is too scared to get close to her. • Flamboyant: Gestures with his hands or a handkerchief when he talks, over-‐dramatizes everything, often shrieks or wails when he talks. Fun Facts: • Very fastidious about his clothing and environment—always grooming and preening himself. • There is always an obstacle to being with the one he loves, but often the obstacle is a very small one that he turns into a big one so he will have a reason to be melodramatic about it. • Loves to write poetry and love songs Favorite Lazzi: • Very afraid of women, and fears them as if they are monsters that want to rip him apart. (especially older women like Columbina) • Hiding from the person he is in love with so he won’t have to deal with her face to face. • Hypochondriac, always pretending to be sick to get attention or get out of doing things. • Very sensitive and easily reduced to tears. • Accepting a compliment and then adding to it and polishing it himself. Contemporary Equivalents • Milhouse (The Simpsons) • Ben Wyatt (Parks and Recreation) • Mitchell (Modern Family) • Manny (Modern Family) • Charles Boyle (Brooklyn 99) • Peeta Melark (Hunger Games)
6
Commedia Packet
Innamoratti (the Young Lovers) Isabella: Sweet, Smart, and Spoiled Posture: Very dainty and prim, almost balletic. Prone to cheesy, exaggerated posing when she is sad (hand on her forhead),in love—(hands clasped at her heart), or frightened (hands thrown up in front of her face with palms out). Animal Image: Swan, Flamingo Character Traits: • Innocent: Thinks of love as something chaste and pure. • Melodramatic: Enjoys “suffering” for her love almost as much as being in love. Loves to let everyone know how miserable she is. • Book Smart: Very well educated and well spoken, but lacks “street smarts.” Fun Facts: • Often pursued by more than one man at a time, enjoys anguishing over who to pick. • Usually the daughter of Pantalone or Il Dottore (her love interest is the son of the other one). • Gossips with Columbina about everything. • Based on a real-‐life person: Isabella Andreini -‐R udlin Favorite Lazzi: • Jumps up and down and squeals when she is happy. • Loses her temper and throws a fit, then immediately becomes sweet again when she gets her way. • Rolls her eyes in disgust or disbelief. • Dramatic mood swings. • Feigning innocence and/or shock whenever caught or in an embarrassing situation or getting hit on by someone. • Likes to go temporarily insane, claiming that love has “driven her mad.” • Kicks the ground when upset. Contemporary Equivalents • Haley Dumphy (Modern Family) • Mary Margaret/Snow White (Once Upon a Time) • Ann Perkins (Parks and Recreation) • Penny (Big Bang Theory) • Bella Swan (Twilight)
7
Commedia Packet
Innamoratti (the Young Lovers) Vittoria: The Orphan Waif OR The Black Widow Postures Orphan Waif: Very fluttery and off-‐balance Black Widow: Smooth and sinuous Animal Images Orphan Waif: A wounded bird Black Widow: Spider (duh) or Snake Character Traits Orphan Waif: Black Widow: • Swooning: Often fainting, short of breath, or • Aggressive: A little older, not afraid to speak weak in the knees, usually to get attention from her mind. the male Innamoratti • Two-‐Faced: Very good at appearing sincere and • Pathetic: Plays on her past as an orphan for friendly while secretly stabbing someone in the sympathy, her big eyes welling up with tears at back. her own situation. • Fierce: Not afraid to go to extreme measures to • Needy: Leans heavily on the men in her life, get what she wants. acting like she can not do a single thing without assistance. Fun Facts: • Also based on a real-‐life person: Vittoria Piisimi, Isabella Andreini–Rudlin’s biggest rival • Usually involved in some kind of rivalry with Isabella, but they can also be best friends and/or sisters. • Both versions of this character often disrupt Isabella’s plans with dramatics and/or a sneaky scheme of her own. Favorite Lazzi Orphan Waif Black Widow • Faints all the time for all kinds of reasons— • Appears where you least expect her. happiness, shock, dismay, love, etc. • Tries elaborate and sneaky ways to get • Plays the “but I’m just a poor orphan girl” card someone’s money. to get out of trouble or get her way. • Attempts to poison someone but gets the • Becomes short of breath when excited or upset. wrong person (and usually doesn’t care). • Claims to be suffering from some mysterious • Plots with Columbina do to great mischief. malady that makes her weak and frail. Contemporary Equivalents Orphan Waif Black Widow • Jess Day (New Girl) • Regina Mills (Once Upon a Time) • Gina Linetti (Brooklyn 99) • Gloria Pritchett (Modern Family) • Effie Trinket (Hunger Games) • Rosa Diaz (Brooklyn 99) 8
Commedia Packet
THIS OTHER GUY Il Capitano: The Swaggering Braggart Posture: Stands very tall, struts around a lot, but becomes a cowering crybaby when he thinks he’s really in danger. Takes up as much room as possible Animal Image: Rooster Character Traits: • Braggadocio: Boastful, cocky • Cowardice: really a baby when in real danger • Mercenary: Doesn’t have loyalty to one side or another Fun Facts: • Not really a captain, but loves to invent a grand name and important title for himself (if you choose this character, have fun inventing an important-‐sounding name) • Always comes from “out of town”—usually somewhere very important sounding. • Always wears a uniform of some kind Favorite Lazzi: • Making long speeches about how he could kill and destroy the person he is threatening, but always has some weak reason he can’t do it right now (ie. I have a hangnail) • Tells a servant he is going to beat him ten times, but keeps losing count and starting over. • Uses a servant to demonstrate what he will do to the person he is mad at when he sees them—then the servant makes him take a turn being that person and returns the favor. • Tries to break up a fight and ends up getting beat up by both of the participants • Tells “yo mama” style jokes, such as “the food here is so bad that….” With a series of punchlines. • Brags about himself in a similar manner… “I am so strong that…” with a series of ridiculous claims. • Columbina falls in love with him, and he is terrified of her Contemporary Equivalents: • Tom Haverford (Parks and Rec) • Tracy Jordan (30 Rock) • Sgt. Terry (Brooklyn 99)
9
Commedia Packet
Step 1: Form your Troupe Others in my Troupe Actor Character
My Name My character Relationship to my character
Where does our Scenario take place? (be specific):____________________________________ What Event is taking place during our Scenario?:______________________________________
Homework: Bring in 5 pictures of MODERN characters that fit your character archetype (ie Grumpy old miser, Orphan Waif, etc.). • Only ONE picture can be of your character’s animal image. • Do NOT search your character name (ie. Il Dottore) and bring in photos you find of Commedia characters. • You will be unable to participate in next week’s project without your research.
Just for fun, draw a stick figure here of your character doing something they would typically do:
10
Commedia Packet
Step 2: Use your character research to design your mask Us the blank masks below to try out a few designs and see what works best. Use the physical characteristics from the photos you brought in to help you choose the shape of your nose, cheeks, and eyebrows.
11
Commedia Packet
Step 3: Lots o’ Lazzi Other Characters in How does my character FEEL What does my character my Troupe about this character? WANT from this character?
Use this chart to keep track of any Lazzi you might want to use in your Scenario. Characters Involved
Brief description of Lazzi
Example: Columbina, Isabella, Arlecchino, Flavio
Columbina and Arlecchino try to get Flavio to propose to Isabella by tricking him in to getting down on one knee and putting a ring in his hand.
12
Commedia Packet
Step 4: The Scenario • • • • •
With your group, pick 5 Lazzi TOTAL to appear in your scene. You may do more than 5 if you like. Each member of the group must appear in at least 2 Lazzi. There should only be one Lazzi happening at a time. Characters can exit and enter the scene as many times as necessary. Your character will not speak during the scene, so we must be able to tell by your character’s posture and movements who they are and what they want!!!
BACKSTORIES: List your characters in the order they will read their ‘story so far.’ Your character voice should be: ORDER Character First
Second
Third
Fourth
Fifth
Sixth
Seventh
Different from your natural speaking voice. Appropriate for your character. Loud, clear, and easy to understand.
SCENARIO: Select your final Lazzi and list them in the order they will be performed. Characters Involved
Brief description of Lazzi
optional
optional
13