UNIT 3: SHAKESPEAREAN THEATRE - ROMEO & JULIET

Commedia dell’Arte and Shakespearean theatre are very different, but very similar in many different ways. Although both forms have various individual aspects, we can compare and learn form one, to move into the other. 

 

Commedia dell’Arte	Similarities	Shakespearean Theatre
Specially known for use of masks.	Actors essentially bring in their own costumes, which are their everyday clothes.	Costume would reflect social status, like if they were king or peasant.
Performances could take place anywhere, in a market, etc. Very minimal set and stage things.	Daytime performances, couldn't afford candles for night time.	Usually performed in a theatre, for example the Globe theatre.
Had Italian origins in the 16th century.	Fourth wall was constantly being broken, very audience interactive.	Had English origins in the 17th century.
Very comedic (lots of lazzi) and most of the play was improvised.	The audience could be anyone, from monarchs to peasants, but they were understandable	More focused on tragedy, horrible things happening in life, and the play was written with specific lines.
Women were allowed to act and were played. Essentially they were equal to men onstage.	Actors were hired for a specific role that they could play.	Women were not allowed to perform.
Used gromalot as language (if it can be called that)	The church was opposed to both types of theatre and thought they were satan worshippers.	Primarily in old english.
Stock characters were used, where one would have a basic idea of a character and go based on that.	Although they were performed differently, there was some form of rehearsal in both types of acting.	Different characters for different plays, although some characters may seem similar, each play would have a set of characters.
Sound was usually exaggerated and created by performers.	Important to project and exaggerate so that the entire audience could understand what was happening.	The sound was very important. Tickets would cost more if there was a better sound quality.

       

Sources:

Class work
Previous Commedia knowledge
Video watched in class (I don't have the link)

http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/uploads/files/2014/01/costumes_cosmetics.pdf