Of Whitby and Commedia

Whitby was quiet, but far from boring. Sure, the place was empty and echoing without wyte_phantom, orkamedies and esdi_leanne -- but there was time and space for conversation, wandering at leisure and generally doing weird things in the name of entertainment.

On Friday afternoon, I took my friend Zanni for a walk. Zanni looks something like this: he's a leather commedia mask that I found on my first and only trip to Venice, years ago, with mothninja (whose birthday it is today. Happy birthday, ninja!)

Ever since high school, commedia dell'arte has been a major source of happiness to me. It appeals to everything I like best about theatre. Say you're a travelling commedia player in the 1500s, about to go onstage: You know the character you're playing, you know the plot, you've worked out a few set jokes and physical comedy routines (known as lazzi) with your fellow players... but there's no script. What words you say when you step out onstage are completely down to you. I recommend the ones least likely to make the crowd of peasants out there start throwing rotten root vegetables.
( Commedia, ragazzi )

Of Whitby and Commedia

Whitby was quiet, but far from boring. Sure, the place was empty and echoing without wyte_phantom, orkamedies and esdi_leanne -- but there was time and space for conversation, wandering at leisure and generally doing weird things in the name of entertainment.

On Friday afternoon, I took my friend Zanni for a walk. Zanni looks something like this: he's a leather commedia mask that I found on my first and only trip to Venice, years ago, with mothninja (whose birthday it is today. Happy birthday, ninja!)

Ever since high school, commedia dell'arte has been a major source of happiness to me. It appeals to everything I like best about theatre. Say you're a travelling commedia player in the 1500s, about to go onstage: You know the character you're playing, you know the plot, you've worked out a few set jokes and physical comedy routines (known as lazzi) with your fellow players... but there's no script. What words you say when you step out onstage are completely down to you. I recommend the ones least likely to make the crowd of peasants out there start throwing rotten root vegetables.
( Commedia, ragazzi )