Masks

The use of masks are essential to a genuine portrayal of Commedia Dell' Arte. This is in contrast to those that argue masks are not as important as it seems such as Carlo Goldoni in the primary document Skeptical View of the Commedia Masks. "Those who first endeavored to bring about its revival... draw out plans, to distribute them into acts and scenes and to utter, extempore, the subjects, thoughts,..." (Goldoni 273) as found in Nagler's text. Essentially the argument can be made that much of Commedia Dell'arte comes from all aspects such as the writing, situations, etc. But because of today's modern audiences that are not as educated in the practices and everything that goes into making a play in this style, it is more efficient to use a recognizable trait to allow the audience to connect. Masks are the perfect example of something to be recognized. Because of the use of stock characters, many need to be identified as they come onto the stage. The example that can be used is of Florindo which is the stock character of the Capitano. As well as identifying stock characters, it also identifies the others. For example the old men wearing masks showing their age is necessary for the audience's recognition. If a man walks out with a hunched back and a mask showing old age, it is clear what type of character he is before any action or dialogue which is clearly a dominant style in Commedia Dell' Arte. This is not just limited to the stereotypical idea of the long nosed white masks, but many different styles to show the wide range of characters. In this style of theater, it is important to identify characters as soon as possible and masks would greatly influence this.

Work Cited: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servant_of_Two_Masters

Nagler, A. M. "Skeptical View of the Commedia Masks." A Source Book in Theatrical History. New York: Dover Publications, 1952. 272-75. Print.