Top Highlights

• The impact of commedia dell’arte on European drama can be seen in French pantomime and the English harlequinade. The ensemble companies generally performed in Italy, although a company called the comédie–italienne was established in Paris in 1661. The commedia dell’arte survived the early 18th century only by means of its vast influence on written ...
• In spite of its outwardly anarchic spirit, commedia dell'arte was a highly disciplined art requiring both virtuosity and a strong sense of ensemble playing. The unique talent of commedia actors was to improvise comedy around a pre-established scenario. Throughout the act, they responded to each other, or to the audience's reaction, and made use of ...

Domain