Physical Blocking

It is most important in this style of theater to have physical movement throughout. This style is based on physicality and interaction with the set and other actors. It can be closely related to farce, or slap stick comedy. Between this and the asides inside the script, the audience interaction and response was very important. In Matthew Buckley's scholarly article Eloquent Action: the Body and Meaning in Early Commedia Dell'Arte", Buckley describes how the physical movement plays into the audiences response and interactions with the story. "...[T]he actors in a way had two sets of speech happening at the same time. One with the literal dialogue of the play, and the other involving the physical movement closely associated with each character" (Buckley 278). So not only was physicality important, but it helped tell the story and explain the subtext of certain situations and dialogue.

For this performance, it will be very important to include all of these necessary aspects of physical movement to give an accurate representation of Commedia Dell'Arte. Physical movement to Commedia is like absurd actions or dialogue in an absurdest play. It is the structure for the style of theater.

Work Cited:
Buckley, Matthew. "ELOQUENT ACTION: THE BODY AND MEANING IN EARLY COMMEDIA DELL'ARTE." Theatre Survey. 50.2 (2009): 251-315. Print.