PANTALONE’S MONEY

This COMMEDIA scene was written, directed and performed by Angela Brown. Mehlinda Heartt plays Columbina. Angela specializes in Commedia dell’arte. This form or theatre was a popular form of comedy performed by a roving company of players. It employed improvised dialogue and various masked characters, such as Arlecchino or Harlequin, and Pantalone. Thes two are perhaps the most famous. This type of comedy flourished in Italy from the 16th to the 18th centuries influencing French pantomime, the English harlequinade, written dramatic forms and even finding its way into the Punch and Judy shows of 19th century England. The characters or “masks,“ in spite of changes over the years, retained much of their original flavour. He/she was an acrobat, had a wit, was childlike and amorous. wore a catlike mask and carried a bat or wooden sword, (ancestor of the slapstick). “Commedia dell’arte” was a popular form of comedy performed by a roving company of players. It employed improvised dialogue and various ma