Italian Renaissance Theatre Flashcards
What is Humanism?
Humanism focuses on people rather than Gods and emphasized the study of classical Greek and Roman sources. Humanism was the focus of Renaissance literature and social philosophy.
In what four areas of theatre did the Italian Renaissance witness major innovations?
Acting (Commedia Dell Arte), Dramatic Criticism, Theatre Architecture, and Scenic Design.
Explain playwrighting in the Italian Rennaissance.
They were not known for their playwrighting. Most plays written during the Italian Renaissance was staged (read aloud) at academies of for wealthy patrons. Tragedies and Comedies were written but all were based on classical Greek or Roman works.
What were two unique forms of playwrighting introduced during the Italian Renaissance?
Intermezzi and Pastorals
Explain Intermezzi.
Short pieces depicting mythological tales presented between the acts of full-length plays. They developed out of popular court entertainments, often required spectacular scenic effects, were often more popular than the plays they accompanied.
Explain Pastorals.
A form that imitated Greek satyr plays. The subject matter was romance, usually dealt with lovers who are threatened or at odds with each other, they were not overtly bawdy or sexual, the action was serious but ends happily with the lovers being reunited.
What did Opera impact during the Italian Renaissance?
It impacted scenic design and theatre architecture.
What is Commedia Dell Arte?
Play of professional artists. A new approach to acting during the Italian Renaissance emerged through the development of Commedia dell Arte.
How many people were in Commedia troupes?
10 performers, 7 men and 3 women.
What genre was the norm for Commedia troupes to stage?
Comedies were the norm, occasionally staging tragedies.
How were Commedia plays performed?
They were short improvised scenes or scenarios that had an outline of a story but no scripted dialogue. It was all improvised.
What were the stock characters in Commedia Dell Arte?
Pantalone- a lecherous, miserly old Venetian.
Dottore- A foolish pedant who was always involved in his neighbours affairs
Capitano- A cowardly, braggart soldier
Arlecchino or Harlequin- A cunningly sly yet foolish servant
The Inamorato- the lover, wore no mask and was eloquent in speaking love declamations.
The Inamorata- the lovers’ female counterpart
Columbina- Her servant, was beloved by Arlecchino.
Pulcinella- the cruel bachelor who chased pretty girls ( was a dwarfish humpback with a crooked nose.)
What is Lazzi?
using repeated bits of comic business
Describe the actors who played stock characters.
They played these roles throughout the entirety of their careers. They would fuse their own personalities with those of their characters, making improvisation easier.
What did Commedia actors wear?
They wore traditional stock costumes, making it easier for the audience to recognize them. Their costumes had certain exaggerated details to reflect their own comic personalities. Masks covered the whole or portions of the face, the young lovers did not wear a mask.
