UNIT 3: SHAKESPEAREAN THEATRE - ROMEO & JULIET

Both Shakespearean theatre and Commedia Dell’Arte have been important in the development of archetypes in society. Shakespeare was well aware of many elements of Commedia and tried to add his own personal touch to it. There are many similarities and differences between the traditional Italian Commedia and Shakespeare’s ingenious stories (“The Elizabeth Age”).

Both Shakespeare and the first Commedia Dell’Arte troop were born roughly in the same decade. At that time, both Italy and England were becoming major cultural and commercial hubs which allowed artists and writers to truly express their craft. The political world realized the importance of art and literature to the life of the nation. Both Commedia and Shakespeare moved in troops that knew their craft very well and worked well together. (“The Elizabethan Age”)

Shakespeare spent a lot of time writing poetic lines in his plays using the iambic pentameter. Commedia Dell’Arte was more focused on humor and improvisation. Commedia was much more fluid in their use of audience interaction and improvisation but Shakespeare stuck to the script much more. (“Interrogating Shakespeare’s Sources”)

Both Commedia Dell’Arte and Shakespeare were known to heavily borrow components of plot and character development. They pieced this together with their own ideas. Commedia Dell’Arte could have been influenced by Shakespeares stories and Shakespeare seems to have watched some Commedia as he borrowed parts of plays from it. His use of Commedia roles and trademark actions are used in almost all his books. Even some names are copied such as Polonius to play Pantalone (“Interrogating Shakespeare’s Sources”).

"Interrogating Shakespeare's Sources: Commedia Dell'arte." University of Cambridge. Cambridge, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. <https://www.ice.cam.ac.uk/component/courses/?view=course&cid=4130>.

"The Elizabethan Age." Shakespeare in American Communities. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2014. <http://www.shakespeareinamericancommunities.org/education/elizabethan-age>.

The Love of 3 Oranges

The Love of 3 Oranges is a Commedia D'ell Arte scenario by Carlo Gozzi around 1761. The play was later adapted in 2002 by the brilliant composer Sergei Prokofiev as a full stage play. I had the privilege to watch it last Thursday.

The story is of Prince Tartaglia who has been cast a spell on by the evil Fata Morgana. Her black magic makes Tartaglia fall in love with and begin the search for three specific oranges. This leads them on an epic adventure helped on by the Good Magician Celio as they reach the Dark Castle. The idiot Truffaldino opens two oranges revealing 2 sisters but since they are not near water, they die. The third one is opened by Tartaglia and out pops a beautiful girl who Tartaglia falls in love with. But even after that, Fata Morgana does not end trying to derail their happiness but in the end, they live happily ever after!


I liked how they panicked and jumped around at many points in the play. Also, they ran out the doors and through it using the entire auditorium effectively. They tried to create a way to invite people in and the entire play was interactive I noticed how they were using gromalot at times to explain their frustration or anger. This was effective as it described alot more to the audience than dialogue would. I was entertained at most points but I got a bit bored especially when the characters would stop taking risks and drag their words and not have the enthusiasm Commedia characters should.

I didn't like how the stage was set out and how it had to be changed every scene especially since it was done so ineffeciently and took a long time. I liked the costumes as they were very 80s and were very eccentric and fun. The colors used in each characters clothing described what they were like as a person too. Also the props added to the storyline through wacky ways.


I liked the spooky scene the best. It was extremely well done using the background as green and the smoke machine to create a scary effect. Rudaina's costume looked very scary and the stage was set out in a way that everything was easily understood because everyone had specific places. It was well done.