Exploring different types of comedy :: Drama

Exploring different types of comedyI am part of a group working on a devised piece based on the theme ofcomedy. We have explored different types of comedy and are devisingways of using these in a piece of drama.We were attached some stimulus material ab pop commedia dellarte, thisliterally means artistic comedy. It started in the later half of the16th century and this was a period where plays were stylish, simpleand cold. So, commedia dellarte was the complete opposite and soonloud, colourful representations cropped up all over Italy. The rulesof theatre were subverted in this new style.Commedia dellarte is mainly based on free temporary expedient on stage.Actors starting performing on simple stages set outdoors with a simpleyet essential background. These improvised performances were neversubtle and the card was very often bawdy and coarse.There are a number of traditional characters that are related tocommedia dellarte. Harlequin is probably the best known out of all ofthe chara cters. He is comic servant who is lazy hardly energetic and bothstupid and clever. He adds to the comedy that is being created onstage by the pure stupidity of the things that he does. He is oftenseen leaping into the air, dancing and walking on stilts.Another well known character is Pantaloon. He is a comic old merchantfrom Venice. He loves to give advice although he often receives blowsfrom his servants, which creates comedy on stage.Even though commedia dellarte didnt generate specific ideas forcharacters as such(prenominal) it did provide us with ideas for basic plot, asthis genre achieves most of its humour on stage from the ridiculoussituations that the characters are faced with.Our group was precondition a second stimulus of pantomime, and we were givenDick Whittington, written by Derek Dwyer and Merlin Price. InBritish theatre pantomime is a Christmas or New Year entertainment,but its origins can be traced back to the 16th century improvisedcomic drama, commedia dellarte. This can be seen as pantomimeretained a number of elements of commedia dellarte, including theactress compete the part of the principle boy, and the actor playingthe dame.Some new elements were also added into pantomime as it developedthroughout the ages such as popular songs, local humour, audienceparticipation and a number of guest appearances from popularentertainers of the day.Many of these characteristics of typical pantomime can be seen in theextract that we have been given of Dick Whittington. For example,before anyone even speaks there is a song to begin the show. This is