This COMMEDIA scene was written, directed and performed by Angela Brown.
Mehlinda Heartt plays Columbina. Angela specializes in Commedia dell’arte. This form or theatre was a popular form of comedy performed by a roving company of players. It employed improvised dialogue and various masked characters, such as Arlecchino or Harlequin, and Pantalone. Thes two are perhaps the most famous. This type of comedy flourished in Italy from the 16th to the 18th centuries influencing French pantomime, the English harlequinade, written dramatic forms and even finding its way into the Punch and Judy shows of 19th century England. The characters or "masks," in spite of changes over the years, retained much of their original flavour. He/she was an acrobat, had a wit, was childlike and amorous. wore a catlike mask and carried a bat or wooden sword, (ancestor of the slapstick). “Commedia dell’arte” was a popular form of comedy performed by a roving company of players. It employed improvised dialogue and various masked characters, such as Arlecchino or Harlequin, perhaps the most famous. This type of comedy flourished in Italy from the 16th to the 18th centuries influencing French pantomime, the English harlequinade, written dramatic forms and even finding its way into the Punch and Judy shows of 19th century England. The characters or "masks," in spite of changes over the years, retained much of their original flavour. “Commedia dell’arte” was a popular form of comedy performed by a roving company of players. It employed improvised dialogue and various masked characters, such as Arlecchino or Harlequin, perhaps the most famous. This type of comedy flourished in Italy from the 16th to the 18th centuries influencing French pantomime, the English harlequinade, written dramatic forms and even finding its way into the Punch and Judy shows of 19th century England. The characters or "masks," in spite of changes over the years, retained much of their original flavour. He was an acrobat, had a wit, was childlike and amorous. He wore a catlike mask and carried a bat or wooden sword, the ancestor of the slapstick. He wore a tight-fitting long jacket and trousers, sewn over with random, odd-shaped patches of green, yellow, red and brown - possibly remnants of leaves, or from the irregular patches of the water-bird ‘harle’ or ‘herle’ from which its thought he takes his name. The jacket was laced down the front with a thong and caught by a black belt worn very low on the hips. The shoes were flat and black. He wore a beret, or later a malleable felt hat with a narrow brim, with a feather or tail of a fox, a tight-fitting long jacket and trousers, sewn over with random, odd-shaped patches of green, yellow, red and brown - possibly remnants of leaves, or from the irregular patches of the water-bird ‘harle’ or ‘herle’ from which its thought he takes his name. Apparently this was a sign of the wearer being a butt of ridicule. Nonetheless, he had and has an enduring, magical power.
11 сен 2024
