- Commedia dell'arte is a style of ancient theater that thrives on rules, memorization, and prearranged jokes, masks, and characters.
- Unlike typical improv, commedia emphasizes consistency and coordinated team effort.
- Your priority is to make sure your audience has a wonderful time. They're what you're doing the show for.
- Consider using scripted performances if not performing with a troupe regularly, to simplify the learning process.
- Rehearsals are essential for refining jokes, exploring character dynamics, and creating memorable moments. Build on what works during rehearsals to maintain consistency and an entertaining experience for the audience.
- Learn lazzi, and insert as many as possible to keep the laughs going. The whole cast needs to be "in" on a lazzo to perform it properly.
- In commedia, exaggerate emotions and be larger than life to create a spectacle that leaves the audience laughing.
- Embrace wildly (not mildly, but wildly) inappropriate responses for quick jokes. Example: What is a normal way for a servant to serve dinner? Do the opposite of that, and you now have a wildly inappropriate response.
- Focus on entertaining the audience, avoiding inside jokes and obscure references.
- Utilize live music to inject energy and excitement into the performance.
- Seriously, quit being an arteest. Make sure the audience has a great time.