THE ORIGINS

• NB. Actors of the Italian Comedy were also acrobats (for example tight rope, dancers etc)
• The origins of the I.C. started 8th century BC in Greece: Icaria Comedy and from the Atellanae (Etruscan originated theatre) 
• Later on the Church was against the theatre because it invoked paganism and led women in the theatre. 
• It grew into two branches: Commedia sostenuta (played by academicians) & the commedia dell'arte. 

• the chief traits which identify Italian Comedy:
• Pulcinella: is always dressed in white (like Maccus the Mimus Albus= white Mime) 
• 
  The Captain: duplicate of Plautus' Miles Glorious
• Pedrolino: analogy with Plautus+Terence's slave 
• Harlequin+Brighella: (Bergamo) Called Zanni because they were descendants of the sannio of the Atellanae.
•  
•  The actors wore head-bands and fake scalps (e.g. Scaramuccia and Pantalone) called the Phallus which gave the effect of shaved heads
• The valets in Italian comedy wore short garments,while long robes and capes were for actors playing nobles and old men. 
• The Tabaro= was worn by all, it was a short cape in the classics style
• The Shap/Stick/Bat= was the favourite weapon of Punch, Harlequin and Scapin.