am ask academy

7/27/2019 Am Ask Academy

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COMMEDIADELL ARTE

WORKSHOPwith Michael Chase,

Director of The

Mask Academy

Commedia dell Arte is

a form of improvised drama which is based around a number of

stock characters. Each of these characters has a number of

needs which define its nature and relationship with the othercharacters and it is from this the performance develops rather

than from any particular story-line. The unique talent of

Commedia players is to improvise comedy by responding to each

other, or to audience reaction, and the masks force actors to

project their characters' emotions through the body.

The six characters we will be looking at are:

* El Capitano * Zanni

* Doctor * Pantelone

* Brighella * Harlequin


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EL CAPITANOThe Captain is a

character that

is at the top of

the food chain.

His convincing

ability to intimi-

date peoplegives El Capitano

his power. He

is arrogant, pompous, self-centered but also vulnerable.

He likes to think he is always in control, & the most

important person in a room, but if he is challenged his

persona will burst like a balloon with a pin. Deep down he

is a timid coward, afraid of everything.

FAMOUS EL CAPITANO

CHARACTERS

Draco Malfoy (Harry Potter)

Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the

Carribean)

Jose Mourhino (Chelsea FCmanager)

Cowardly Lion (Wizard of Oz)

GESTURES AND MOVEMENTS

prances & struts, looks downhis nose with inflated chest

exaggerated expressive

movements as if every part of

his body is amazing large strides, broad shoulders &

chest

walks as if 1000 men walk in

step with his every move

MOTIVATIONS

wants everything immediately

wants to be in control

likes to have people serve him

doesnt like to be challenged

attention from the audience -will stop and show off in frontof them


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DOCTOR

The Doctor is a

caricature of learning.He is pompous &

fraudulent. He makes

people believe he is an

expert on any particular

subject matter, &/or a

professional. It doesnt

matter what the sub-

ject is, he will bore you

endlessly with his(fake) knowledge of it.

FAMOUS DOCTOR

CHARACTERS

Dr Evil (Austin Powers)

Norris Cole (Coronation St)

Professor Snape (HarryPotter)


one hand on belly, with bellysticking out

one finger in the air I have

an idea! - hand gestures leans back on heels

always walks when he talks, not

in a straight line

and another thing!

MOTIVATIONS

wants to exude knowledge

wants to impress people

feeling of self-importance

food


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BRIGHELLABrighellas character is based on

that of a dog. He has canine

characteristics & will bark

orders at those he deems

beneath him. He will also

wimper in front of El Capitano.

Brighella is a middle status

character & will adapt his

attitude depending on who he is

interacting with. He is also

roguish & sophisticated, a

cowardly villain who would doanything for money.

FAMOUS BRIGHELLA

CHARACTERS

Uncle Vernon (Harry Potter)

Cilla Battersby (Coronation St)

Chief Super Intendant Mullet (ATouch of Frost)


strong, muscular

big stomach that sticks out

growling voice, gruff, barking

orders wimpering, bows backwards

shakes his fist a lot

weight is placed on a bent leg

MOTIVATIONS

money

will grovel to higher status toget what he wants

can be cruel to charactersbelow him

he is a schemer and can be evil

witty, humorous, deceitful


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ZANNI

Zanni is not an

intellectualcharacter. He is

the archetype of

the comic

servant; stupid,

hungry & poor,Zanni never does

a good job. He can be caught slacking off, stealing & not

doing what hes told! He is at the bottom of the food chain

& can be a servant to any of the other characters.

FAMOUS ZANNI CHARACTERS

Frank Spencer (Some MothersDo ave em)

Rodney (Only Fools & Horses)

Rizzo the Rat (The Muppets)

Ja-Ja Binks (Star Wars Ep. 1) Dobby the House Elf (Harry

Potter)


low centre of gravity

movements mimic a bird,

searching for food

makes hunger sounds

long nose hunched back

weight of body moves from 1

leg to the other

MOTIVATIONS

food

sex/a bed

shelter


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PANTELONE

Pantelone has a high

status in Commedia dueto his wealth. He is

miserly & miserable, &

wants to gain something

from every situation. He

would sell his daughterif he could make money

from it! He is most

frightened of losing his

wealth as it means he

would lose his status.

FAMOUS PANTELONE

CHARACTERS

Fagin (Oliver)

Scrooge

Dellboy (Only Fools &

Horses) Cornelius Fudge, Minister of

Magic (Harry Potter) - moti-vated by trappings of status


birdlike head movements

shortsighted

hands behind his back, or rubbing

together

knees out, heels close together hunched back - hes past it

MOTIVATIONS

money

food

sex, young women

wants to gain something

from each situation


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HARLEQUIN

Harlequin has a huge imagina-

tion. He is often played by a

young woman or girl as they

better portray the innocence

of the character. He only

wants food & love, & is notin the slightest bit nasty. He

shows love, lust, desire & an

appetite for pies, & is a

character whose movement is

dance-like. Harlequin has contradicting qualities; lazy &enthusiastic, stupid but clever. Probably the most well

known of the Commedia.

FAMOUS HARLEQUIN

CHARACTERS

Kevin McCalister (Home Alone)

Ron Weasley (Harry Potter)


foot & head point in the same

direction

eye & toe point in the same di-

rection

emphasis pleasure

nimble & agile

MOTIVATIONS

lust

love

food

comedy


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COMMEDIA DELL ARTE

or comedy of the arts,

began in Italy. It is truly an

actors theatre, where they

have to get inside the mask

to encompass the essentialelements of each character

to make them work. There

is no privacy in Commedia

and the actors have to

interact with their audience

and fellow performers to

create the energy of a

piece. The mask does not

represent an individual, but

its function is to project an

archetype (not stereotype)

so that the characters can

easily adapt into any story.

Listed below are some

important points to

remember when wearing a

mask, & also some warm

up & character developing

games.

TOP TIPS

Dont block the audience,especially when you stop talking. eg. if

you have your arms spread out, make sure your chest is open to the

audience

Keep up high energy

Stay in character. Feed off other actors energy, but dont mimic theirqualities.

Breathe in, make eye contact with the audience while moving, stop,

exhale, eye contact with other character

WARM UP & CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT EXERCISES

Yes, No, Maybe game - have a conversation between characters

using only these three phrases.

I Love You game - each character to say I love you expressing

different meanings

Balance a glass of wine: 1 hand, both hands, both hands different

direction. Twist your whole body to keep hand balanced out.

Movement exercise - kick out & hop, place foot, stick tongue out -

ensure soft landing, body low down, land still

Twist with a partner- try twisting your head & then your body round

as far as it will go. Try jumping & twisting - how far you can get

round?

Take turns to say Aha! - pass it round the circle. Practice wide

mouth wows! Then introduce the hop from before. Try this with eachcharacter - think about body positioning, voice, movement


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Walk & talk - two characters to stand opposite each other. Take

turns to look at the audience then make eye contact with opposition,

walk towards them, stop, turn back to audience then speak. This

encourages switching of audiences focal point between characters,

and exaggerates conversation.

Each character to enter onstage: Aha!, introduce yourself, then say

farewell

The Argument - do the above again, but 1st character to stay on

while 2nd character passes focus using eye contact. Link this to the

walk and talk from earlier until noses touch: remember to end up

circling a focal point on the floor, noses touching, change direction

It is a good start to improvise into astory which can develop into a shortdevised piece - Canavachio!

These help sheets have been brought to you by:

Bradon Forest School01793 770570The Peak, Purton, Wiltshire, SN5 4AT

www.BradonForest.wilts.sch.uk

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