The Commedia

The Commedia dell'arte was a 16th-century theatrical tradition characterized by humorous, improvisational plays featuring stock characters like clever servants, proud masters, and mischievous lovers. Performers used masks, exaggerated movements, and physical comedy to entertain audiences across Europe. These scenes often involved clever wordplay, social satire, and comic misunderstandings, with actors improvising dialogue within a loose scripted framework. The style was influential in shaping modern comedy and theater, emphasizing spontaneity, character archetypes, and visual humor that remain relevant today.