Baldwin Players Community Theatre Asbury Hall at The Baldwin Community United Methodist Church 5001 Baptist Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236. 412-881-1002 Problems? Comments? Email the webmaster |
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| The Baldwin Players Proudly Present: |
| Scapin Adapted from Moliere's original play by Bill Irwin & Mark O'Donnell April 19, 20, 21, 26, 27,28, 2012 Produced in arrangement with Dramatists Play Service Inc. |
Show Only Tickets: $ 12.00 Dinner & Show Package: $ 25.00 |
Call for Reservations: 412-881-1002 or E-mail Christopher Scott at christopherscott@baldwinplayers.org |
Show Times: 8:00 PM Dinner: 6:30 PM |
| Commedia dell'Arte |
| Directed by David Grande Assistant Directed by Linda Matthews |
| Produced by Tyson Sears, Emily Shawgo & Christopher Scott |
The characters of the commedia usually represent
(fixed [social] types, stock characters), such as
foolish old men, devious servants, or military
officers full of false bravado. Characters such as
Pantalone, the miserly Venetian merchant; Dottore
Gratiano, the pedant from Bologna; or Arlecchino,
the mischievous servant from Bergamo, began as
satires on Italian "types" and became the
archetypes of many of the favorite characters of
17th– and 18th–century European theatre.
In Elizabethan Times, it was customary for men to
play all of the roles in stage productions - even the
female ones - as women were excluded from
participating in the theatre arts - except as
observers. This exclusion was not merely limited to
the culture of Elizabethan England, but was, in fact,
propagated by many of the world's more "advanced"
cultures in their respective ages.
Now, The Baldwin Players turn history on its ear by
casting a woman in the role of a man, and not just
any man, but the very title character, himself...
Scapin!
Enjoy the show.
(Italian pronunciation: [komˈmɛːdja delˈlarte]) is a form of theater characterized by masked "types" which began in Italy in the 16th century and was
responsible for the advent of the actress and improvised performances based on sketches or scenarios. The closest translation of the name is "comedy
of craft"; it is shortened from commedia dell'arte all'improvviso, or "comedy of the craft of improvisation". Here, arte does not refer to "art" as we
currently consider the word, but rather to that which is made by artigiani (artisans). In fact, the term arte was coined much later, for in the early period the
term used in contemporary accounts is commedia all'improviso. This was to distinguish the form from commedia erudita or learned comedy that was
written by academics and performed by amateurs. Commedia dell'arte, conversely, was performed by professional actors (comici) who perfected a
specific role or mask.
responsible for the advent of the actress and improvised performances based on sketches or scenarios. The closest translation of the name is "comedy
of craft"; it is shortened from commedia dell'arte all'improvviso, or "comedy of the craft of improvisation". Here, arte does not refer to "art" as we
currently consider the word, but rather to that which is made by artigiani (artisans). In fact, the term arte was coined much later, for in the early period the
term used in contemporary accounts is commedia all'improviso. This was to distinguish the form from commedia erudita or learned comedy that was
written by academics and performed by amateurs. Commedia dell'arte, conversely, was performed by professional actors (comici) who perfected a
specific role or mask.