Commedia dell' Arte: Isabella Investigation

Name of character (and its origins): Isabella. This character is immediately associated with Isabella Andreini (1562-1604). She was admired through France and Italy by all classes. She was a very well educated poet and a songwriter too.

Status (class of character): Prima donna, innamorata (lover). Daughter of Pantalone. Flirtatious and stubborn, men often fall in love with her.

Physicality:

• Stance: she is rarely standing in both feet: normally making ballet positions. Chest full of breath.

• Animal characteristics: pink flaming, love bird.

• Walk: swishing and swinging around, wobbling.

• Gestures: often holding flowers or handkerchiefs.

• Other: exaggerated movements of the hands.

Voice (vocal characteristics): refined and unpretentious.

Costume: uses a long dress, often holding a handkerchief, a fan or a book (see attached images).

Mask: no physical mask but often uses a lot of makeup.

Props: handkerchief, fan or book.

Relationships (to other characters and audience): lovers are more in love with the idea of being in love than with themselves. She is extremely aware of being watched by the audience and often flirts with spectators.

Plot/stage function: a lover, although she initiates solutions to her own account most of the time.

Characteristics/persona/other: A little bit proud, extremely dramatic. Has independent will and she is highly cultivated. As the other lovers, she is self-obsessed and selfish. They are more interested in what they are saying and how it sounds than what their beloved is saying.

Think of(anything that will help the actor to access the character): As a lover, Isabella should be very playful, flirtatious. She should be the woman desired by plenty of man: playful but at the same time confident.

Source Page

"Commedia Stock Characters Isabella." Shane Arts Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2011. .

Delpiano, Roberto. "Isabella." Roberto Delpiano's website . N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2011. .

Rudlin, John. Commedia dell'arte an actor's handbook. London: Routledge, 1994. Print.