On October 25th, 2024, students and teachers from the Italian Department of the School of Foreign Studies (SFS) of Nankai University were treated to a special impromptu comedy workshop. Luca Comastri, an expert team director and actor, Gabriel Bird, an actor, Umberto Cavalli, a musician and Tania Passarini, the head of the Italian Fraternal Compania APS, guided the students and teachers of the classes of 2022 and 2023 in this joyous event. As one of the activities of the 24th World Italian Language Week, this workshop received special support from the Italian Institute of Culture of the Italian Embassy.
Since its establishment in 2000, the Italian Fraternal Compania APS has devoted itself to the creation of Italian impromptu comedy and social drama, and organized the first “World Day of Commedia dell'arte (Italian Impromptu Comedy)” in Bologna in 2010. In 2012, the Compania was awarded the “Enriquez Prize” of the city of Sirolo for its outstanding contribution to the dissemination of comedy culture.
Actor Brielle Bird (left) and director and actor Luca Comastri (right)
Musician Umberto Cavalli (left) and head Tania Passarini (right)
The workshop began with a brief introduction to Italian impromptu comedy (Commedia dell'arte) by the lecturers. With its distinctive role images, unique masks, and pantomime performances, this 16th-century-originated drama genre swiftly swept across Europe. Actors rely on the reactions of the audience and their stage mates to improvise, conveying character and emotion through their bodies and expressions. Thus, they can break down language barriers and bring the joy of impromptu comedy to the global audience.
The three iconic characters—Arlecchino, Dottor Balanzone, and Pantalone—as well as the traits of their masks were then thoroughly explained by the lecturers. Arlecchino is the gregarious but foolish servant, Balanzone is the arrogant scholar, and Pantalone is the lustful and greedy old man. During the explanation, the lecturers put on masks to demonstrate, accurately capturing the essence of each character and winning applause from the students. To deepen students’ understanding of impromptu comedy, lecturers invited students to wear masks and participate in interactive activities. Through engaging instructional examples, students fully experienced the charm of impromptu comedy in a relaxed and happy atmosphere.
During the practice session, the lecturers gave the students instructions on how to walk and run while displaying the traits of Zanni, Pantalone, and Dottor Balanzone. Zanni is rude, Pantalone is always hunched over and rubs his hands greedily, and Balanzone shows off all over the place with his big belly. Although the movements still need improvement, the students gave their best attempts to fill the stage with laughter.
Under the guidance of the lecturers, all the students participated in an impromptu comedy performance. They strolled freely on the stage to the rhythm of the music, improvising and creating many hilarious interactions, which ended this special impromptu comedy class perfectly.
Group photo of students and faculty of the class of 2023 with members of the compania
Group photo of students and faculty of the class of 2022 with members of the compania
