Practicing what we have of the Cannovacci so far

Aim of Task: To start actually rehearsing the scenes in the cannovacci that we have been discussing. To think about the scenes that will go in between the scenes we already have and complete the cannovacci.

Description of Task: Now that we have a better idea of what our cannovacci is going to look like, we will be rehearsing the scenes that we have thought about. In the process of rehearsing, we expect to think about the scenes that will go in between the scenes we have already thought about.

Pantalone is an old man. He doesn't walk straight, he walks with his back curved and speaks with a very rough voice. He is pretty much careless too, he cares almost only about money; nothing else. His animal is a chicken, so it is very important to make small fast movements. He walks in small, fast steps. His face is also always moving, looking around.

While performing, we figured that Pantalone will hit Zanni in the first scene to establish the servant-boss relationship. We also thought that Isabella should be the kind of girl that constantly asks her father things and constantly demands attention. Therefore, in the first scene. Isabella would be trying to talk with Pantalone but Pantalone would constantly interrupt her.

We also thought that one way we can explain how the characters fall asleep is that they are at a party, and after drinking a lot they fall to the ground and fall asleep. In this party we will play with words and the meaning of "melons." Pantalone will ask his servants to "bring the melons" and while Zanni will bring actual melons, Pantalone will reject them and demand that Colombina brings the melons.

After the scene where all characters realize that it will be the end of the world, IL Dotore will perform a "FBI - full body inspection" to Colombina, Zanni and IL Capitano which will be necessary for the to go to heaven. However, IL Dotore's main purpose will be to get to "inspect" Colombina. Nevertheless, Colombina tricks IL Dotore while his eyes are bended into touching La Ruffiana instead of her; which la Ruffiana really likes but then shouts at IL Dotore when IL Dotore makes a bad commentary about her body.

Reflection: Writing and discussing the cannovacci is one thing but actually starting to perform it gives you a better idea of what the cannovacci is about and helps you think better about it. Getting into your Commedia dell' Arte character is being an specific set of movements that are characteristic of your character.

Conclusion: There is still plenty of work we have to do in our cannovacci so that we can present it on stage. This will be our first performance as a theater year 1 group and we should make good first performance to all the school. I like Commedia dell' Arte because it is about making people laugh, I find it very curious to see how each character has its own way of being funny. It's fun to put this characters in different situations and letting them be funny by their own characteristics.

I think that commedia to some extent can explain why some stories are funny. Sometimes, I hear somebody telling a story about a person "x" they know and has a very specific characteristic say, this person never thinks twice what he says. Then when this somebody tells a story which demonstrates that "x" didn't think twice what he said and it was funny; the fact that the story reinforces the characteristic of "x" makes it even funnier. This is the case with commedia, characters do the same actions over and over again and that repetition and a very interesting humor factor that the audience can identify with.