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Masks are available for purchase by teachers.
You can see samples in the Mask
Gallery.
Class
Plan #1 Class
Plan #2 Class
Plan #3 Class Plan #4 Class Plan #5
Half
Mask and Lazzis
From 1550 to 1750, commedia dellarte
dominated the stages of western Europe. Troupes of
performers traveled from town to town entertaining audiences
with their spirited, improvised comedies.
A familiar scenario or running order of
scenes pinned to the curtain backstage would suffice for a
skilled commedia actor. Such characters as Arlecchino,
Brighella, Pantalone, Dottore, Capitano and Columbina became
household names. So popular did the commedia become that it
moved beyond Italys borders to neighbouring countries
influencing the work of Shakespeare and Moliere.
The workshop deals with six of the stock
characters. It is emphasized that the students should
find a modern reference for themselves in order to
understand the energy and stock personality. For
example; some students often relate Pantalone with Mr.
Burns from The Simpsons. The female students are also
encouraged to find the female counterpart rather than
crossing sex and playing a male character.
The beginning warm-up involves the
teaching of the seven levels of energy and vocal work.
We discuss which energy levels are essential for the
Commedia work.
The students are then given a chance to
experience the masks (which are made and brought by me) and
then improvise a short scenario using various lazzis which
the students make up for themselves. Although some
teachers prefer to use stock lazzi openings such as, an
acrobatic entrance, I prefer to allow the students to find
their own personal physical "signature" for each
character.
This work prepares the students to work
with a scenario called, "Plot/Counter
Plot." Pantalone wants something. He
conspires with Il Dottore to get it through an evil
plot. They commission El Capitano to carry it
out. Arlecchino overhears this from a secret hiding
spot and devises a counter plot to thwart them. He
relates the plot and then counter plot to Brighella who then
alters the counterplot to get what he wants out of
the deal. He then tells Tartaglia the plot and his
counterplot. Tartaglia then mixes the plot and counter
plot up.
Although the workshop can be taught to a class with small numbers in one session, it
is best taught over a two or three day period. This
allows the students to absorb the information and overcome
their reluctance, or in some cases, fear of wearing the
mask.
Commedia style half masks are available
for purchase by teachers and should be ordered at least
three weeks in advance of the workshop.
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