Themes Behind The Masks
Masks refer to both the article the actor wears over their face, and the character an actor portrays. It's important to note this when reading about commedia dell'arte to not get confused what is the subject the author is discussing. The fact that the terms, mask and character, are interchangable can be seen as a metaphor that helps tie aspects of commedia dell'arte together. This blog will be used to introduce the theme of masks in commedia dell'arte.
Masks are objects and masks are characters, so even the maskless roles of commedia dell'arte such as
the lovers, or Pagliacchi are still considered masks. Being one of the same; characters of commedia dell'arte are static like the physical mask throughout the course of the show, they do not evolve with the plot of a single or even multiple scenarios. Because they are not dynamic during a performance
they do not lose their archetype status, at the beginning and at the end of the show each character remains the same stereotype, they never take off their mask. The mask is a tool to create a present persona to quote John Rudlin in his handbook for commedia dell'arte actors "the personality of the actor is thus over taken not by an author's scripted character, but by the persona of the mask to be played." he then goes on to say "...It is true that a mask has no individualized past when it appears, only a present presence as a mask." this idea of being present or in the moment is a key philosophy to modern improv, what we see here is that it has always been a pillar for which improv stands upon. When the curtains return and the scenario is over the masks resets, any added information or characteristics is washed off, the mask returns to it's essence. One perspective is that these masks are improvisers themselves and when in a scenario they are playing their own parts, because these plots are fictions, offers created for the sake of the plot or for an effect are fictions too and change nothing about the mask and it's own truths.
Static characters are generally seen as weaker than dynamic characters, but static character are more ready to be used and abused. when themes and patterns in history repeat themselves we can see characters like those from commedia be advantageous, however much like the evolution of life on earth, characters that are built not to adapt can become irrelevant and go extinct. There is power in tying a an idea, or character to an object, suddenly the role becomes a metaphor, an eternal symbol that can spread across time, languages, and cultures. Masks can represent all sorts of concepts, many cultures use mask to show abstract aspects about humanity and nature, in commedia dell'arte we see masks being used as a tool to explore a single steriotype more object than human. The personas are simple, it is how we explore them and their use which is has depth.
