What is commedia?
Commedia Dell’ Arte “Play of the Professional Artists,” was a kind of improvisational theatre which started in Italy during the Renaissance and spread throughout Europe, becoming a popular form of entertainment for about 200 years. Commedia was performed by many different traveling troops of actors who performed stock characters; such as Harlequin and Pulcinella. It has influenced the likes of Shakespeare and Moliere, and can be seen even today in shows like “Third Rock from the Sun”(minus the masks of course). If you’re interested in learning more, here is a useful link.
