comedia dell'arte

Commedia dell'arte is an Italian theatrical form from the 16th century characterized by improvised performances featuring stock characters, exaggerated masks, and physical comedy. It relies on performers' improvisation within a framework of established scenarios, with actors adopting distinctive roles such as the witty servant, jealous husband, or clever daughter. The style emphasizes visual humor, slapstick, and fast-paced dialogue, making each performance lively and unpredictable. Commedia dell'arte influenced many modern comedy forms and theatrical traditions, blending improvisation with scripted elements to entertain audiences with humor rooted in character archetypes and improvisational skill.