History Main / CommediaDellArte

A form of theater developed in late-Renaissance Italy, '''Commedia dell'Arte''' ("artists' comedy") relied on a UniversalAdaptorCast of [[StockCharacter stock characters]], whose roles, characteristics, and costumes were well-defined and widely known. The troupe would take a scenario, which would outline the plot, and create their own dialogue and actions to tell the story. Contrary to popular belief, Commedia actors did not improvise their dialogue on the spot. Rather, they created the dialogue before performing the scenario.

* ''Film/LeCapitaineFracasse'' and ''Film/CaptainFracassasJourney'' (based on the 1863 novel by Théophile Gautier) both tell the story of an early 17th century French [[ImpoverishedPatrician impoverished nobleman]], the Baron de Sigognac, who joins a travelling ''Commedia dell'Arte'' theatre troupe and comes to replace the actor who played the Capitano after his death, nicknaming himself "Capitaine Fracasse". Sigognac usually falls in love with the young actress playing TheIngenue, and goes through {{swashbuckler}} perils to save her from another nobleman who desires her for himself (though not quite the case in the 1990 film).

* ''Film/LeCapitaineFracasse'' and ''Film/CaptainFracassasJourney'' (based on the 1863 novel by Théophile Gautier) both tell the story of an early 17th century French [[ImpoverishedPatrician impoverished nobleman]], the Baron de Sigognac, who joins a travelling ''Commedia dell'Arte'' theatre troupe and comes to replace the actor who played the Capitano after his death, nicknaming himself "Capitaine Fracasse". Sigognac usually falls in love with the young actress playing TheIngenue, and goes through {{swashbuckler}} perils to save her from an EvilAristocrat who desires her for himself (though not quite in the 1990 film).

The Commedia dell'Arte is an ancestor of the British tradition of {{Pantomime}}, which also relies on stock characters and audience interaction. It also set the stage (no pun intended) for the RomanticComedy genre, and has been emulated by the likes of Creator/GilbertAndSullivan, Creator/WilliamShakespeare (''Theatre/TheTamingOfTheShrew'' is a particularly good example), Creator/{{Moliere}}, Creator/BertoltBrecht (expertly retooled the stock characters in ''Theatre/MrPuntilaAndHisManMatti''), Creator/AAMilne (albeit without the romance) and the writers of ''Series/BlackAdder'' and ''Series/FawltyTowers''. It is entirely possible for a modern-day work to channel these archetypes unintentionally; they're just that ingrained into culture, and they ''work''.

* In the ''Manga/GunslingerGirl'' fanfic "Infidelity", Henrietta is taunted by a hallucination of a drunken man in a Brighella carnival costume.

* ''Theatre/{{Pagliacci}}'' is a classic opera, by Ruggero Leoncavello, about a Commedia troupe. The title literally means 'clowns'. The ShowWithinAShow is that Colombina is cheating on Pierrot with Il Capitano, and it's played for laughs, but backstage, Canio (the actor playing Pierrot) finds out that his wife (Colombina) is actually cheating on him with the actor playing Il Capitano. He sings the classic aria ''Vestia la giubba'' ('put on the costume') and then goes mad with grief.

* ''Harlequin Valentine'', by Creator/NeilGaiman, is explicitly based on commedia dell'arte tropes, with Harlequin as a [[TheTrickster trickster spirit]] romancing a mortal woman (who is, in the Columbine spirit, the sanest and most sensible character, and things don't go quite as expected). Along the way, Harlequin nominates the other characters as filling various stock roles, although it's ambiguous whether this is genuine insight or just a case of labelling people according to his preconceptions.

The Commedia dell'Arte is an ancestor of the British tradition of {{Pantomime}}, which also relies on stock characters and audience interaction. It also set the stage (no pun intended) for the RomanticComedy genre, and has been emulated by the likes of Creator/GilbertAndSullivan, Creator/WilliamShakespeare (''Theatre/TheTamingOfTheShrew'' is a particularly good example), Creator/{{Moliere}}, Creator/BertoltBrecht (expertly retooled the stock characters in ''Theatre/MrPuntilaAndHisManMatti'') Creator/AAMilne (albeit without the romance), and the writers of ''Series/BlackAdder'' and of ''Series/FawltyTowers''. It is entirely possible for a modern-day work to channel these archetypes unintentionally; they're just that ingrained into culture, and they ''work''.

* "[[Recap/InsideNo9S6E1WutheringHeist Wuthering Heist]]" episode of ''Series/Inside No.9'' places many of the classic Commedia dell'Arte characters in a ''Film/Reservoir Dogs''-style heist story. Pantalone is a gangster organising a diamond heist, with other characters as his henchmen. The "Columbina" [[spoiler: who is an undercover cop]] explains various tropes to the audience as they're happening. [[spoiler: In the tradition of both Tarantino and Inside No 9, most of the characters get killed off at the end.]]
** Inside No.9 writers Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith (who played The Doctor and The Capitano characters respectively) discussed the Commedia dell'Arte genre in more detail in their podcast "Inside Inside No.9", explaining how it inspired comedies such as Fawlty Towers.

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'', Anju and Kafei's subplot fits this; they are the Innamorati, Mayor Dotour is il Dottore, and Link seems to be a male version of Columbiana. Among others, the Curiosity Shop owner is Brighella, and Tingle is a loose version of Pulcinella.

* ''[[https://talesofphantomcay.blogspot.com/ Tales of Phantom Cay]]'' has characters loosely based on Commedia dell'Arte. Quinn is Harlequin, Pierre is Pierrot, Mr. Trousers is Pantalone, etc.

** Despite this, her character is more of a [[CompositeCharacter composite character]] of both the Harlequin and the Colombina.

* "[[Recap/InsideNo9S6E1WutheringHeist Wuthering Heist]]" episode of Inside No.9 is an incredible mashup of a Heist movie and Commedia dell'Arte. "Columbina" explains various tropes to the audience as they're happening. The "Inside Inside No.9" podcast is a must listen where the creators briefly explain the history of Commedia dell'Arte and mention Fawlty Towers among other comedies.

* "Wuthering Heist" episode of Inside No.9 is an incredible mashup of a Heist movie and Commedia dell'Arte. "Columbina" explains various tropes to the audience as they're happening. The "Inside Inside No.9" podcast is a must listen where the creators briefly explain the history of Commedia dell'Arte and mention Fawlty Towers among other comedies.

** Despite this, her character is more of a [CompositeCharactercomposite character]] of both the Harlequin and the Colombina.

** Despite this, her character is more of a [CompositeCharacter composite character]] of both the Harlequin and the Colombina.

** Despite this, her character is closer to the Colombina.

* In ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'', the most powerful members of the Fatui, known as the Fatui Harbingers are named after character archetypes from the Commedia dell'Arte. A few examples include La Signora, Scaramouche, and Tartaglia.

* Creator/WarnerBros' classic cartoon characters also show their Commedia roots:

* WesternAnimation/SpongeBob SquarePants:

* Andre Moreau of ''Film/{{Scaramouche}}'' is a heroic fugitive who goes undercover in the ''commedia dell arte'' troupe his [[SlapSlapKiss beloved Lenore]] acts in, discovering an unexpected talent for slapstick.

* The cast of ''Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast'' fits nicely:

* Creator/CharlieChaplin's ''Film/Limelight'' features a ballet - "Harlequinade" with the Commedia dell'Arte characters.