commedia dell'arte

American  

[kuh-mey-dee-uh del-ahr-tee, kawm-me-dyah del-lahr-te] / kəˈmeɪ di ə dɛlˈɑr ti, kɔmˈmɛ dyɑ dɛlˈlɑr tɛ /

noun

plural

commedia dell'artes, commedias dell'arte,

plural

commedie dell'arte

1. Italian popular comedy, developed chiefly during the 16th–18th centuries, in which masked entertainers improvised from a plot outline based on themes associated with stock characters and situations.

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commedia dell'arte British  

/ kɔmˈmeːdia delˈlarte /

noun

1. a form of popular comedy developed in Italy during the 16th to 18th centuries, with stock characters such as Punchinello, Harlequin, and Columbine, in situations improvised from a plot outline

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Etymology

Origin of commedia dell'arte

1875–80; < Italian: literally, comedy of art

Example Sentences

The avant-garde ensemble, created by Ariane Mnouchkine, worked in the Italian commedia dell’arte tradition, using stock characters and masks.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2022

The actors josh with each other and the audience in the madcap communal spirit of commedia dell’arte troupers.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 16, 2021

One day, the director of the Perry Street Theater, knowing of his training in commedia dell’arte, asked him to make a mask for the stock character Arlecchino, also called Harlequin.

From New York Times • Jul. 8, 2021

I never gave much thought to the history of comedy until I started studying commedia dell’arte.

From New York Times • Feb. 1, 2021

A recurring bit includes one of them choking on French fries; commedia dell’arte experience helpful.

From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle