THE SCENARIOS and STAGES

• The scenarios are impossible to reproduce in modern time because you need a good troupe of improvisators

• The stages were portable (as high as eye level) and had two curtains: the drop curtain(backdrop) and the fore curtain.
  
  
  

THE RENAISSANCE TROUPES 

• These troupes still performed in dialect and stage action was lively and as lifelike as possible.
• The Gelosi's emblem was: "Virtu', fama ed onor ne ser'gelosi" (they were jealous of attaining virtue, fame and honour)
• Up to 1680s the Italian players had remained faithful to the tradition of the Commedia (12 to a troupe etc) after the troupes became larger, french phrases were inserted in the dialogue but the ROLES remained the same.
• Goldoni is famous in the Italian Comedy, he wrote more than 150 plays. 
• Gheraldi had a collection of 40-60scenarios, in the Italian style with French repartee. 
• from the middle of the 18th century the art of improvisation was deteriorating therefore songs and music soon took over the dialogue. 

THE MARIONETTES

Harlequin and Pantaloon.

• developed at the same time as the Italian Comedy
• Their origin could be from the Atellanae.
• Lamia (Africa ghoul) and Manducus (ancient ogre) came into existance originally as marionettes. 
• Manducus developed into the Captain!
• Burattino was the name of the leading character. It now means marionette in modern Italian.