Commedia Character Shorts- Il Dottore (Chapter 4)

Il Dottore!

Il Dottore is not a physician, he just has a university degree.  To hear him tell it, he probably has several of them. He and Pantalone function together as the old men trying to marry off their children and generally making a mess of it. Pantalone and Il Dottore are the alter ego of each other, Pantalone being the decadent wealthy merchant, and Il Dottore being the decadent erudite. 

They alternate between being each other's best friend and worst enemy and are often the victims of each other's biased advice, but their schemes and machinations always seem to end up in much the same fashion: backfiring on them.  Whereas Pantalone can always take solace in his money, Il Dottore is happy to wax philosophical and will always be ready with a high-sounding misquotation or an elegant malapropism to give closure to yet another misadventure.

The Doctor is a local, disruptive busybody who doesn't listen to anyone else from any of the fields that he claims to know about, which is many (medicine, law, literature, etc.). There is not a subject that he doesn't know everything about.  He is traditionally portrayed as having been educated either in Bologna (he is full of bologna!) which since the Renaissance had one of two of the most prestigious universities of Italy and Europe. He is often extremely rich, generally with "old" money, though the needs of the scenario might have things otherwise. He is extremely pompous, as quick-tempered as Pantalone, and loves the sound of his own voice, spouting nonsensical Latin and Greek in phrases that can go on, and on, and on, and on and onandonandonandonandon.......

• His mask is unique in that it is the only mask in commedia dell'arte to cover only the forehead and nose. It is sometimes black, or else flesh-toned with a red nose. He also reddens his cheeks.
• His costume usually includes a large stomach pad so he looks rather fat (fat = rich), always dresses in black, is well groomed, rich looking.
• Dottore's movement is often in a figure 8 pattern, with his weight back on his heels and his belly forward.  His gestures are as expansive as his knowledge appears to be.

Joel Thompson plays the pompous and hilariously long-winded Dottore in our Servant of Two Masters.



Get your tickets to Servant of Two Masters today, and laugh with us soon! Want to see what the critics have to say?   Click on our review round up here.
Piccolo Box Office: 847-424-0089 or online at www.piccolotheatre.com 

This Just In! Early Praise for Servant of Two Masters

We had such a fantastic opening night with Servant of Two Masters!  I'm not sure who had more fun- the audience or the actors.  Well, we do know that the critics enjoyed it.  Take a peek at what they have to say, and click the links to see the entire review.  We have absolutely nothing to hide with these reviews!

Highly Recommended! "The folks at Piccolo Theatre have emerged as one of the few theatre troupes skilled and disciplined enough to create wonderful Commedia dell’Arte."
-Tom Williams, chicagocritic.com 

Recommended! "Omen Sade is a spectacular highpoint as the title servant. Sade is more than just quick on his feet--he exemplifies physical comedy."
-Dan Jakes, chicagoreader.com

Photo by REP3.com

"...a kinetic exploration of the art of performance...This successful venture is another testament to Mr. Szostek and his cast's love of performance."
-Brian Murphy, Evanston Roundtable

"...A fresh, delightful, and laugh-out-loud funny production. Physical comedy is the order of the day, and director John Szostek has brilliantly coordinated the interactions of a very energetic and acrobatically talented cast."
-Laura Kolb, centerstagechicago.com

"...this company performs pure “Commedia dell’Arte”! And what they do is sheer perfection." -Alan Bresloff, aroundthetownchicago.com

Photo by REP3.com

"This The Servant of Two Masters offers an embarrassment of comedic riches." -Tom Wittom, Evanston Review


"...[Omen Sade] really got to the heart of Truffaldino, and the quick physical movements, the flights of fancy, and the schemes.  He was a delight to watch. -Adam Gertsacov, www.clownlink.com

"...the production delivers charm as well as energy. The simple pleasure of buffoonery – that is the hearty spectacle that Piccolo achieves in its economically tiny space."
-Paige Listerud, chicagotheaterblog.com

Photo by REP3.com

Now what are you waiting for?  Don't get caught in the "I'll buy tickets later" trap. Get them today, and laugh with us soon! 

Piccolo Box Office: 847-424-0089 or online at www.piccolotheatre.com 

Commedia Character Shorts- Innamorati (Chapter 3)

Innamorati!

The Innamorati, or Lovers, are delightful characters!  They create situations of desperation, gossip, envy, and are always stumbling upon obstacles that keeps them apart from their lover...all excellent material around which action can be developed for all of the other characters. Being separated from their lover (could there be anything worse?) gives them reason to strongly lament and moan their state, although when finally face to face, they are at a complete loss for words. Or they speak in an elegantly  heightened speech of the upper class, close to poetry and sonnet. In dire situations, they have the habit of enlisting the help of a servant to act as a medium between the two of them, which of course only opens the door for confusion and hijinks caused by their hapless servants. Very selfish and self-centered, the Lovers are in their own worlds in which they themselves are the most important subjects. Along with loving themselves, they are in love with the very idea of love and what it pertains to. They are vain, thoughtless, change emotions on a whim, and could be cruel and callous while professing the most profound of loves. Attractive and elegant, they can still be as comic and as flawed as any of the other characters.

There can be two sets of lovers in a Commedia dell'Arte play/scenario.  The First Lovers, usually more intelligent and serious, and the Second Lovers, usually flighty and slightly silly.

The First Lovers (sometimes called the straight lovers) in Goldoni's Servant of Two Masters are Beatrice and Florindo. They are cultured, educated, and seem to have a much broader life experience than the Second Lovers.  Their attraction and love for each other is based on the feeling that they are true equals both in character, social status, and intelligence, and as a team they would be quite a force to be reckoned with. Even though the First Lovers are usually the most grounded characters on stage, they are still prone to bouts of deep melancholy, selfishly pursuing their needs with little heed to anyone else, and taking their frustrations out on servants.  Their manner of dress and movement is stylized (see 'posture' below).

The Second Lovers in Goldoni's Servant of Two Masters, are Clarice and Silvio.  They appear quite young and their love for each other is similarly immature in nature.  While still professed as true love, theirs is rooted in image, pretense and pure fluffy romance (think a sappy romance novel). When things are not going their way, they throw tantrums, pout, hurl insults, cry and whine. Their manner of dress and movement is highly stylized (more so than the First Lovers), making Silvio is quite a fop and Clarice a brilliant coquette. 

• The Lovers elegant costumes were always in the latest fashion, (often to styled to excess) and usually of the same color, just in case another couple of Lovers was in the play too. This only reaffirms how much they were made for each other.  Just like couples who wear matching outfits today!
• The Lovers are the only Commedia characters who are not masked. (With the occasional exception of the Smeraldina/Columbina character.)
• The posture that the Lovers take on is that of strong pride. Their chests are expanded and thrust out so that the heart essentially leads them, sometimes seeming to literally pull them across the stage. They balletically point their toes while standing, and when moving, take light, quick steps, giving them a floating appearance.  Overall, they lack contact with the ground and seem to float rather than take steps. Their hand movements and gestures are very grand, expansive and expressive.

Actors Denita Linnertz and Tommy Venuti play the heroic and tragically separated Beatrice and Florindo in Servant of Two Masters.




Actors Deborah Craft and Glenn Proud (married to each other in their off-stage lives) are playing the passionate and hilarious Clarice and Silvio.




Opening weekend was a raving success for Servant of Two Masters!  The reviews are rolling in, and the critics LOVE what they are seeing. We want to have you rolling in our aisles. Visit the Piccolo Theatre Website for information on how to get your tickets today.

Check back soon for links to the great reviews and the next installment of Commedia Character Shorts!

The Music of Piccolo's Servant of Two Masters

From the very first meeting I had with Director John Szostek, it was clear that we wanted to use the music in Servant of Two Masters as a nod to some of the oldest Commedia dell'Arte musical traditions.  Music is as deeply rooted in this tradition as the masks worn by the actors.  But it was equally important not take ourselves too seriously in the process.

The show opens with a rousing version of "Two Fools Went to Venezia", which is based on an old Italian folk song about some gentlemen who go out to show themselves a good time, but end up just getting drunk and sick. See if you catch the name of one of the 'gentlemen'.... as he will reappear later in the show.

The lovers (with the exception of Silvio) all sing songs made famous by Virginia Andreini, one of the most famous prima donna innamorata of Commedia's golden age, generally accepted as the late 1500s-mid 1600s. (This was also simultaneously the beginning of operatic history.)

Innamorati

Clarice sings "Care gioie che le noie" in a setting by Claudio Saracini (Seconde Musiche, 1620). The dark and romantic tone of the lyrics are particularly suited to the scene, as Clarice is just about to kill herself in response to being jilted by her lover, Silvio.

Dear joys that banish the suffering of sighs, that pleasure I have in my breast those scintillating eyes reveal.  Now that vain dream with is false and fair company doesn't feign, doesn't advance that hand with so sweetly wounds my breast.

Unfortunately for Clarice, not only is the sword too large to gracefully pierce her breast, but I set this song to be played by an accordion in the style of a folk tune.  A wink to the audience that we are not to take her too seriously, in spite of her despair.  

Guilio Caccini

Beatrice and Florindo both sing "Tu ch'hai la penne", which is the theme of  their romantic journey through the play. Giulio Caccini composed this piece in 1614 for Lo schiavetto, a comedy made very famous by Andreini.  Andreini sang this piece at the end of that production (accompanying herself on the lute), disguised as a man, and in despair of her character's plight.  It seemed so fitting for Beatrice and Florindo, as they are both in danger, Beatrice in man's dress, and thinking each other dead.

You, Love, who have wings and know how to spread them in flight, ah! fly quickly to where my heart is: and if you do not know the way, follow my sighs.

This is one of the only times in the play that we are allowed to take seriously, as Beatrice and Florindo are the "straight" or "dark" lovers, meaning that their plight carries the plot and gives the play the weight it needs to carry the rest of the comedy.

But lest we take ourselves too seriously and get too buried in all of this beautiful tradition, Truffaldino has a love song too. He must impress the delightful Smeraldina somehow....and he does that with a ridiculous rendition of Louis Prima's "Angelina", played on his mandolin.  Embraced by fans as the Italian-American from New Orleans, his lively love song fits right in to our score.

We bookend the show with another Italian folk song, Notter de Berghem, in honor of Truffaldino, our comedic servant who reminds the audience several times how proud he is to be from Bergamo, a small town 230km from Venice.

-Denita Linnertz, Music Director, Servant of Two Masters

Commedia Character Shorts- Pantalone (Chapter 2)

Pantalone!

You will see a lot of this hilarious character in Servant of Two Masters!  Pantalone is thought, for the most part, to be based on the old Venetian merchants and tradesmen, known for their stingy and less-than-pleasant personalities.  Pantalone is entirely fixated on money and ego, and has the highest regards for his intelligence, but is actually somewhat stupid. He is fond of food and pretty women, gullible, hot tempered, and the butt of every conceivable kind of trick. (If you read last week's post on Arlecchino, you can guess who will be instigating most of these tricks....) Pantalone is usually the father to one of the lovers, and driven to arrange a suitable marriage for his offspring. In this play, it is the sweet and simpering Clarice.  Pantalone is presented either as a widower or bachelor, and despite his age, makes numerous passes at the women within the commedia world, though he is always rejected.  Despite his sinister and often inhumane treatment towards his fellows, Pantalone is perceived to be a pivotal part of commedia. His importance is represented in almost every commedia production; and following tradition, we place him at the beginning of our show to introduce the comedy.

• Pantalone's costume consists of tight red trousers or stockings, a long, loose black cloak with free-flowing sleeves, a brimless red hat and slippers.  He usually wears a giant codpiece to advertise his virility (which everyone knows to be long gone) and wears a pouch of money on his belt that usually hangs suggestively next to his cod piece
• Pantalone's mask has a long, hooked nose and small, beady eyes and a moustache, which is part of his mask
• This character moves very stiffly and walks hunched over to show how old he is and possibly to also better protect his money pouch.  His knees are bent and his feet shuffle quickly along the ground.  His hands and arms also move quickly, often gesturing wildly.  At bad news (usually that he has lost a coin), Pantalone is prone to heart attacks, falling onto his back with legs up like a beetle, stuck there until someone comes by to help him.

Here's more from the hilarious Lucero Less, who plays Pantalone in our production.



Opening night for Servant of Two Masters is quickly approaching, Friday, February 25!  (Which non-so-accidentally also happens to be World Commedia Day.)  We are READY to have you rolling in our aisles. Visit the Piccolo Theatre Website for information on how to get your tickets today.

And check back here for the next installment of Piccolo's Commedia Character Shorts, to get some thoughtful info one set of our Lovers.

Giants of Commedia and Commedia Character Shorts

Did you see the video of our first rehearsal?  Looks like fun, doesn't it? We have so much more in store for you here- more sneak peaks into our rehearsal process, photos, fun historical facts, and our upcoming "Commedia Character Shorts" series.  Once a week, we'll post some info about the characters in Servant of Two Masters alongside a candid video interview with the actor who will be performing that role. Whether you are a Commedia dell'Arte junkie, or have never heard about it before reading this post, you're going to love these! Keep your eyes peeled for the first installment about Truffaldino!

In the meantime, we thought we'd pass along this great blog to you:  Clownlink 
A lot of the blog topics are right up Piccolo's alley, and the author is doing some special posts in honor of World Commedia Day (which happens to fall on opening night of Servant!). Check it out to find some info on Giorgio Strehler, Dario Fo, Flaminio Scala, Carlo Mazzone-Clamenti, and much more!

The Servant of Two Masters

"Most people are looking for a job...he has TWO!"

The cast of Piccolo Theatre's Servant of Two Masters has been in rehearsal for a little over a week now, and we thought you might like to meet the cast and crew of our upcoming Commedia production! Check out this great footage from our very first rehearsal last week.



Who is this "Federigo Rasponi of Turin", and why is everyone so interested in him, particularly since reports are that he was recently killed in a duel? Stay tuned....or better yet, buy a ticket to the show!

Servant of Two Masters

By Carlo Goldoni

Translated by Tom Simpson

Directed by John Szostek

Previews: Feb 18-20, 2011

Opening: Feb 25 – April 9, 2011

Days & Times: Fri at 8pm, Sat at 8pm, Sun at 3pm

Location: Evanston Arts Depot, 600 Main St., Evanston

Tickets: $25 for Adults, $20 for Seniors, $15 for Students, call for group rates.

Call for reservations 847-424-0089 or order online www.piccolotheatre.com

We have so much more to share about this show- about our brand new masks (made by our friend Antonio Fava), the music we've chosen, the crazy characters, the history of the show as it relates to the art of Commedia AND the role it plays in Piccolo's beginnings. You're going to love it! Stay tuned for more sneak peaks into the rehearsal process.

Oh, and did I mention that we have new ensemble members!! A belly laugh and hearty congratulations to costume designer Joshua D. Allard, lighting designer Eric Branson, and actors Nicole Keating, Jessica Puller, Vic May, Andrew Roberts, and Laura "Berner" Taylor.

Thanks to our good friend Rachel for the video! You'll be seeing a lot more work from her in upcoming blog posts.