IOT celebrates Commedia dell’Arte Day
| February 26th, 2010 |
Music Row: Who’s that masked man?
By Brian Rademaekers
Northern Liberties’ The Fire is a music venue that has long specialized in giving a stage to obscure and up-and-coming bands, notably musicians experimenting with new sounds and still looking for an audience.
On Thursday they’ll keep with that tradition, only the main act won’t be a rock band. Patrons will be treated to an hour-long performance of Commedia dell’Arte - a form of ancient slapstick that some call the roots of modern-day opera and theater. In Italian, the phrase translates to “comedy of art,” short for “comedy of the art of improvisation.”
Feb. 25 marks the inaugural Commedia dell’Arte Day, which will see hundreds of performances take place across the globe, from Tunisia to Akron, Ohio. Here in Philly, the only participant is The Fire, a distinction made possible by the bar’s owner, Karen Saillant.
She’s also the founding artistic director of the International Opera Theater, a non-profit that has been putting on opera-related shows in Philadelphia and beyond since 2001. Having “the strange distinction of directing an opera company and owning a rock club” put her in position to participate in Commedia dell’Arte Day, says Saillant. And that’s no small feat, considering she once helped bring the performance art’s foremost expert, Antonio Fava, to the city for a series of workshops and classes on Commedia dell’Arte.
Her relationship with the ancient form of masked comedy - which got its start in Italy in the 16th century - began when her son, Christian Bygott, expressed interest over a decade ago. During a course held by Fava in Philadelphia, Bygott became infatuated with the style of acting, and later spent four months studying under Fava in Italy.
In the years since, he has spent more than 2,500 hours studying with Fava. He’ll be one of three actors performing on Thursday, and said he is excited to bring the performance style to an audience that normally may not seek out theater.
Having originated in Italy in the mid 1500s, Commedia dell’Arte is defined by masked actors that usually represent a handful of steady archetypes: lovers, servants, the old man, the mistress, and so on. This style of acting is often credited with popularizing features of theater that are common today.
One can also see early elements of what is today called sketch comedy; the performances are based loosely on a predetermined sketch or theme, with the actors encouraged to feed off the audience while offering improvised scenes.
“It’s really so much fun,” Bygott says. “The great part about it is the archetypes. You see people all the time just walking down the street that you can identify as common characters. For something that started in 1530, it’s amazing how well it works now.”
Bygott also said modern day audiences can appreciate elements of slapstick comedy inherent in the style. For one, a character in Thurday’s show will actually wield a noisemaking stick as prop. But Bygott said the masks - made by Fava to replicate early Italian models - also force the actors to use exaggerated motions and gestures often associated with the slapstick style.
“It’s very physical. You play into the characters and the way you walk or even hold yourself in a way that is unusual - it’s an exaggeration of the human form,” explains Bygott. “When you cry with a mask on, you can’t just ‘cry’, you really have to get animated and you’re very vocal.”
Following the performance, the actors will engage the audience in a question-and-answer session. “Just in case we utterly confuse them and they want to ask why, we’ll gladly answer those questions,” says Bygott.
Saillant sees Commedia dell’Arte as something that dovetails nicely with the overall niche The Fire hopes to serve.
“At The Fire, we are dedicated to original music and artists,” says Saillant, “so it really is very much in line with what we want to support within the Philadelphia arts scene.”
Check it out . . .
Who: International Opera Theater and Commedia dell’Arte Day
What: Three experienced actors offering ancient, masked slapstick
Where: The Fire, 4th Street and Girard Avenue
When: Thursday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m.
International Opera Theater is proud to announce that Gianmaria Griglio will be conducting the world premiere of Carlo Pedini’s “Iago” (August 2009). 
IOT will present excerpts of Emily Wong’s Romeo e Giulietta in Philadelphia (June 2009) to help fundraise for the American premiere. Check back soon for location and time.