Commedia Character Shorts- Smeraldina (Chapter 6)

Smeraldina!

Truffaldino (Arlecchino) has met his match in this high-spirited female servant (Servetta)! She occupies a special place among the Commedia characters, being one of the highest-ranking of them all.  Often the only functional intellect on the stage, Smeraldina assists her mistress (the innamorata) to gain the affections of her lover, often while simultaneously managing the whereabouts and moods of the innamorato AND managing the advances of her employer, Pantalone. She may be a flirtatious and impudent character, indeed a soubrette, but unlike any of the other servants, she never loses her keen judgment. Smeraldina is what the Innamorata is not: free, insolent, not slave of love bonds.  She is sometimes brilliant, vain always, a chatter-bug and gossiper, and always prone to intrigue at somebody else's expenses.

Carlo Goldoni uses the Colombina character quite a bit in his plays, clearly enjoying her simply wisdom and non-nonsense approach to life, truth and love. (She also is lucky to marry Truffaldino at the end of Servant of Two Masters!)  Although Columbina became the most widely-used name for this Servetta, other names under which the same character is played in Commedia performances include: Franceschina, Smeraldina, Columbina, Mirandolina, Spinetta, Ricciolina, Corallina, and sometimes in disguise as Arlecchinetta (Harlequina).

• Smeraldina's costume is that of a high ranking servant.  As she sometimes appears as a sort of Harlequin in female clothes, she may be costumed in a dress that is a patched duplicate of Harlequin's.  She has also been known to wear heavy makeup around her eyes and carry a tambourine which she could use to fend off the amorous advances of Pantalone.
• Smeraldina is most usually without a mask, even though all other servants are masked.
• Smeraldina's light foot work matches that of the servants, with her weight shifting quickly and deftly between her two feet.  She also usually has her hands on her hips, with wrists bent an fingers pointing behind her.  They look almost like little wings, and aid her in her flirtatious ways.

Here is the delightful Vanessa Hughes, who plays Smeraldina in our production of "Servant of Two Masters".



As of this posting, only two performances of Servant of Two Masters remain, and only a handful of tickets are left.  Be sure to see this amazing production before its gone for good!

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.

Commedia Character Shorts are here! (Chapter 1)

Arlecchino!

Arlecchino is always a Commedia favorite.  Traditionally he is a servant (zanni) to Pantalone, Capitano, or Dottore, and is generally accepted as the most intelligent of the zanni characters.  He tries to trick his masters, but usually fails.   In Goldoni's Servant of Two Masters his name has been changed to Truffaldino (roughly, "Little Trickster") and much of the action exists because he tries to outwith everyone and serve two masters at the same time. Food holds amazing power over all of the zanni, but particularly this chap, so you can easily understand that two masters means twice the pay which means....twice the food!  He is also very much in love with Smeraldina, one of the other zanni in the play.  Will he win her over AND get permission to marry her AND serve two masters?  You'll have to see Truffaldino live and in action!

Arlecchino, PiccoloTeatro di Milano

• Arlecchino's costume is a rather tight jacket and pants, with bright multi-colored patches, usually in diamond shapes.  They can be in a symmetrical or asymmetrical pattern. 
• Arlecchino wears a belt and a slapstick.  (This is where "slapstick comedy," comes from).  A slapstick is made out of two thin strips of wood separated at the handle by a half an inch or so.  When the slapstick hits an object, the two strips of wood slap against each other  to make a loud sound, without hurting the person being hit. 
• Arlecchino's mask consists of a black half-mask and a black chin-piece. The mask's forehead is strongly lined with wrinkles, accentuating a slightly quizzical arch to the eye brows. The eye holes are arranged in such away as to convey and expression of astonishment, sensuality and craftiness. There is traditionally a tumor like growth billowing out under one eye along with a wart. The eyebrows and beard are bushy consisting of stiff bristles. This ensemble of characteristics portrays something savage and fiendish, with cat like qualities. The mask is such that it opens many possibilities to character and action.The nose is not very big, since he is very intelligent.
• Arlecchino is always moving, in acrobatic and agile ways.  Therefore, the actor who plays him should be very flexible.  His knees are always bent, as if he could spring up at any minute into a leap or acrobatic move.  Like Zanni, Arlecchino is led by his nose--his head follows an object, and then his body goes after it.

Here's more from the amazing Omen Sade, who plays Truffaldino in our production.

Check back here regularly over the next few weeks and we'll guide you through the basics of traditional Commedia characters and give you an insider's look at our production of Servant of Two Masters.  Want more information on Commedia?  Visit the Piccolo Theatre Website or email info@piccolotheatre.com with specific questions.

Carlo Goldoni and Commedia dell'Arte

Carlo Goldoni

Carlo Goldoni's famous Servant of Two Masters was written in 1743 near the end of Commedia's golden age. This masterpiece obviously owes its success to the multitude of traditional and beloved Commedia elements he utilized: characters, situations, masks, etc., but the manner in how Servant is performed is slightly different than what was considered "Commedia" at the time in 1743.

Goldoni had conceived a new type of theatre, a new way of acting, and a new way of perceiving the role of the playwright. Up until this point, Commedia actors were used to creating plays themselves using a great deal of improvisation. The subject was chosen (usually love intrigues, clever ways of getting money and outsmarting simpletons), the characters conceived and named, their relations to one another determined, and the situations clearly outlined, all beforehand. The material was then divided into scenes and lazzi, and the situations were made clear. When this general outline was deemed satisfactory, the actors were then given the freedom to heighten, vary, and embellish their parts as their genius might suggest. But with the Servant of Two Masters script, Goldoni took the reins and wrote everything down in a script. Earth shaking? It was in at the time in Italy.

So what does that mean for Piccolo's performance of the piece? Will this "scripted" play make us LAUGH??? What about the hilarious, creative brand of Piccolo-style improvisation and general goofiness? Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!

Have no fear! Artistic Director John Szostek has already thought this through.

"There is a trap in attempting to present The Servant of Two Masters and that is how to allow the comic instincts of skilled actors to overcome a tendency to be a servant to the text. It has been said that commedia is the riskiest form of comedy. True, but worth the risk. When the moment of inspired improvisation happens it is like a lightning strike and time seems to be in suspension while a wonder takes place. Fortunately Goldoni’s text is so perfectly balanced and adhering to pure form that it allows us to perform under, through, over and behind the text." -John Szostek

See the show yourself (opens February 25!) and the Piccolo Ensemble will treat you to a Commedia experience that will make you wonder why this conversation about Goldoni's script seemed like such a big deal.

For some more info on Goldoni, you may enjoy this video fro our namesake and inspiration, Piccolo Teatro di Milano (particularly the section right around the 4:00 mark). English speakers, don't fear, the narrator speaks your language. Plus there is also some great material on everyone's favorite character, Arlecchino. Enjoy!

Arlecchino servitore di due padroni | Giorgio Strehler e Ferruccio Soleri

Thanks to our dramaturg, Claudia Zanna for her research and Artistic Director John Szostek for his quote!