Monthly Archives: april 2016

Mask technique in Commedia dell’Arte in Commedia dell’Arte (Part 2)

A dialog works as follows: the first mask to speak first turns to the mask he speaks to, in order to show him and the audience who he is talking to. The he turns his mask to the audience and … Read the rest of this entry

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Mask technique in Commedia dell’Arte in Commedia dell’Arte (Part 1)

First of all we must establish that the mask technique is used by every mask in Commedia dell’Arte, consequently also the masks that don’t actually have a mask in their face. That is so all masks are playing in the … Read the rest of this entry

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Entrees, sorties and sidelines in Commedia dell’Arte

Some of the special conventions in Commedia dell’Arte are the use of entrees, sorties and sidelines. An entrée always have to be exaggerated and articulate. I don’t just have to be so full of energy that the mask entering the stage … Read the rest of this entry

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No 4:th wall in Commedia dell’Arte (Part 3)

We can take in the audience in the performance either as an organism in itself or turn to different individuals in the audience. The show becomes a play between the audience and the masks on stage. In this play the … Read the rest of this entry

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No 4:th wall in Commedia dell’Arte (Part 2)

One convention in Commedia dell’Arte is to take of the mask in the middle of the play explaining that a mistake has been made and he will now be repeating the gag or trick or blaming the director/author when a … Read the rest of this entry

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No 4:th wall in Commedia dell’Arte (Part 1)

In most theatre today there is an idea that the audience is supposed to sit down passively and don’t disturb the performance. We shut down the light in the house, demand total silence of the audience and then act like … Read the rest of this entry

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Sound and sound effects

Commedia dell’Arte can very well be played without words, but never without sound, not even for a short moment. That is because it is street theatre. Sound has the ability to draw attention to it. I usually do an experiment … Read the rest of this entry

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