Teaching Commedia dell’Arte

by Tony Kishawi

Review by Karen Wighton, October 2011

Attractive in format, this book is chock full of interesting ideas, information and pictures about teaching and performing Commedia dell’Arte. Tony Kishawi’s significant experience as a performer and teacher of Commedia, clown, mask and mime are evident within its pages. It offers so much more than the history and characteristics of the style. This is a great teaching tool because its focus is how to teach Commedia, and because the enormous fun of the style jumps off the page.

This book would suit both beginning students of acting and drama, as well as experienced teachers. Almost six pages of index preview the extensive, practical content and generous colour photographs. You will find all you need on: warm up games; where to begin; stock characters, both masked and maskless and their function within the scene; essential tips in mask; improvisation; voice; routines and lazzi; bringing characters to life; audience interaction and even some sample plots.

Thanks to this valuable resource, teachers will also have the confidence to discuss the origins of contemporary comic characters. Students will discover that each Commedia character has modern day counterparts, particularly in sitcoms, and so will see the relevance of the study of this vital aspect of theatre. This book may challenge the approaches you have previously taken in teaching the style. Turn that old unit of work on its head, toss out those research handouts about comic history and stock characters’ traits and costume. Instead, enter into this vigorous, (sometimes hilariously vulgar) and physical style. Enjoy teaching Commedia dell’Arte? You certainly will now!

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