Cinderella with the Commedia Players

By Lane Riosley

The Italian tradition of commedia dell’arte may be centuries old, but it’s alive and well in this rollicking play-within-a-play! The lively commedia troupe spices up the classic Cinderella story with sharp wit, slapstick shenanigans, and endless silly squabbles (including baguette fencing, laugh duels, and slap fights).

Arlequin, the mischief-maker of the group, boasts about getting the role of the prince, but troupe leader Columbine gives the princely role to Scaramouche instead. Now Arlequin and his big nose have been reduced to playing the prince’s smelly servant, Grovel! Read more...Punchin, Rogantino and Isabella don dresses, wigs and evil attitudes to play the wicked stepfamily while Rosetta, as the Fairy Godmother, proves to a stubborn Cinderella (played by Columbine) that she can do magic, which happens in front of our very eyes with a little grunt work from the players!

Adding to the tale and tomfoolery are Mezzetino (who strums the guitar, sometimes in tune, most the time not), Zanni (the players’ servant) and Ruffiana (who plays multiple roles with panache) while the players take turns narrating. It’s a community affair, and communal laughter will fill your theatre along with the costumes and props as the commedia troupe makes a mad dash to pull off the show!

Commedia dell’arte, Italian for “comedy of the professional artists,” was a popular form of improvisational theatre that began in Italy in the 15th century and continued in its appeal for centuries. At that time, all performances were unscripted and held outdoors, with only simple props and no scenery. The influence of commedia dell’arte is evident in much of our contemporary comedy, most notably in the great commedia artists of the 20th century, the Marx Brothers.

When presented today, the commedia players — such as Arlequin, Punchin, Rosetta, Pantalone and Columbine — are portrayed as poor travelers who have made all their props from objects they’ve found. Their costumes, with the commedia diamond pattern always evident, are partly hand-made and partly inherited from wealthier people who either tired of that fashion or thought better of it. The various talents of the actors’ acrobatics, dance, music, quick wit and insight into human nature, all make the plays as entertaining and relevant today as they were to the people of Renaissance Europe, when commedia dell’arte was at its height of popularity.

Pioneer Drama Service is proud to carry 11 commedia dell’arte adaptations by the renowned, award-winning children’s playwright, Lane Riosley. Each bursts with physical humor and witty banter that breathe new life and energy into the classic fairy tales. Everything needed for these productions — costumes, props and special effects — fits into a single wagon or chest on wheels, making these shows perfect for touring or professional productions.

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