Introduction
Welcome to your first ever Drama Webquest. Today we will be looking at the characters in Commedia Dell Arte and how they have come about. For each one you need to find an example of their character traits etc.
Start by watching the following video and then choosing a character that you would like to explore further.
Task
Your task is to find out as much as you can about the following characters and answer the questions in your commedia booklet.
1. Characters fit into three categories Vecchi or Old men, Zanni or slave/servants and Innomorata (young lovers) As you conduct your research be careful to pay attention to which category they fall into.
2. Make sure you watch examples of each suggested character on Youtube.
You will need your head phones in for this lesson. :)
Process
Read through the following character descriptions and then use the examples to look up the characters on youtube.
PANTALONE
He is a greedy, suspicious and rich old man. He trusts no one and is forever guarding his money. He is often married to a younger woman or is the head of a rich wealthy family. Pantalone likes to wear women's undergarments and is often being tricked or fooled by his servants.
Examples: Mr Burns from the Simpsons Scrooge McDuck
IL (ill) DOTTORE
Il dottore is also an old man. He is quite full of himself and his own importance. He believes that he is the smartest man in the room and is often showing off by telling everyone everything that he knows. He uses lots of big words although he rarely understands what the words actually mean. He knows everything but understands nothing.
Examples: Dr Zoidberg from Futurama, Dr Spaceman from 30 Rock, Sheldon Cooper from Big Band Theory and Major Charles Emmerson Winchester 3rd from MASH
IL CAPITANO
Il Capitano is another old man character, only this character in particular is full of bravado. He considers himself to be quite brave compared to everyone else. Not that any of the other characters totally believe his act. He is often telling everyone about his battles except the details are always mixed up. il Capitano is a bit of a chicken. He pretends to be brave. Right up until the moment when he has to be brave and then he curls up in a ball and cries like a baby or he runs away like a little girl.
LELIO AND ISABELLA
ARLECCHINO
PULCINELLA
BRIGHELLA
Foul tempered but intelligent slave. Much more intelligent than the other characters. He is often planning manipulative schemes and evil plots. Very greedy. He is seen as trust worthy by those of a higher class and is seen as mean and cruel to those in the lower class.
Would dob his own mother in if it meant he could gain something from it.
Examples: Edmund Blackadder from TV show Black adder. Moe from the Simpsons
COLUMBINA