This page is dedicated to my research on, and work with Commedia dell’Arte.

For the past few years I have been a member of  I Genesii, a commedia troupe from BMDL, Aethelmearc,  writing scenarios and doing commedia reasearch.   I have been writing scenarios I Genesii since 2010, for  Pennsic Commedia All-Stars since 2014, and    for Atlantean commedia troupe I Firenzi War of the Wings shows also since 2014. My Compleat Anachronist, #172,  Characters and Scenarios of Early Commedia dell’Arte,  was published July 2016, and I am one of the authors of the Compleat Anachronist #173, also on commedia.

Scenarios:

These are the scenarios, more or less as I have submitted them to the troupes.  I write scenarios for the troupe, accounting for number of actors and actresses and their wishes. All the scenarios are written in the style of late 1500’s, please follow the link to the  handout of my Creating Scenarios class, if you would like to know more about the process. Of course, there were many, many modifications and contributions by the actors before the scenarios became performances!  Feel free to browse, read, and adapt them for your own use. I am making them available under the Creative Commons license –  just let me know if you decide to use them.

Commedia – the Origin Story, or, the Accidental Necromancer, was written for and will be performed by the fifth season Commedia All Stars cast at Pennsic 2018, the link to the scenario will enabled after the performance – no spoilers! However, the plot is based (veeeeery loosely) on real events in the lives of two greatest commedia performers of all times!

All is Fair in Love and War  – was written for and will be performed by I Genesii at Pennsic 2018, at which point there will be a link to the senario!

The Bird of Paradise – was written for and performed by I Firenzi at the War of the Wings event in 2017. It is another adult themed show. The plot is absolutely ridiculous, and inspired by the real news story about how Egyptian lawmakers tried to stop the import of artificial hymens from China.  I am not making this up, here’s the link to the CBS site : https://www.cbsnews.com/news/egyptian-lawmakers-ban-chinese-fake-hymen/

The Philosopher’s Brick – was written for and performed by the 2017 cast of Pennsic Commedia All-Stars. To see the video of the performance, please visit https://www.ifirenzi.com/pennsic-commedia-all-stars/

The Importance of Being Older  – was written for and performed by I Genesii at 2017 Pennsic.  It is also known as I Genesii – the Musical.  The scenario does not include all the musical numbers, which were filked by the cast members themselves, using as inspiration anything from Disney’s Aladdin, to the 14th century Stella Splendens.

The Toga Party – was written for and performed by I Firenzi at their 2016 War of the Wings adult show. Adult themes include togas, blackmail, and sixteenth century Italian city state politics.

Arlicchino of La Mancha (reduced cast) – was adapted (by request) from the Pennsic All-Stars scenario for use by I Firenzi, commedia troupe from Atlantia by reducing the cast from 13 to 9 people, and making sure the remaining characters could carry the plot. Basically, it involved eliminating the second inamorati couple and their servants. This version was performed by I Firenzi at the Atlantia Kingdom Twelfth Night event on January 14th, 2017, The Tourney of Ymir event (Atlantia) on February 25th, 2017, which was also the International Commedia dell’Arte Day, and at the Atlantia Kingdom Arts and Sciences festival, March 4th, 2017.

Arlicchino of La Mancha – was written for and performed by the 2016 cast of Pennsic Commedia All-Stars. To see the video of the performance, please visit https://www.ifirenzi.com/pennsic-commedia-all-stars/

The Dutiful Daughter – was written for and performed by I Genesii at Pennsic 2016. It was a fun little show. First of all, the full title was  The Dutiful Daughter, or Omnia Amor Vincit Pecuniae Multum Adiuvat (love conquers everything, but money helps a lot). Because I was kinda enamored with long multi part titles. Second, at the end, Byron and Ariella, then the Majesties of Aethelmearc, held an actual court at the end of the play, and  awarded Brighella a Sycamore. Thirdly, because of how the cast worked out, the two inamoratas did get a happy ending, and did get married – to each other, with full royal blessing. Unconventional, even for commedia, but it all worked out.

The Issues of One’s Loins, Performed by I Firenzi at War of the Wings, Atlantia, 2015, and at Ymir, Atlantia, 2016. This is another scenario that ‘contains adult themes’, done in an attempt to recreate a period commedia performance/experience. Even though it’s much more tame than your average HBO show, the warnings remain in effect. This one is also unusual, because in addition to the regular I Firenzi cast, there were two guest appearances: HRM king of Atlantia, as the king of Atlantia, and Master Efenwealt Wystle as Pantalone’s  father. Which is why there is a musical duel and a drunken singing scene towards the end!

A Long Lost Treasure, performed by Commedia All Stars at Pennsic 44, 2015.  To see the video of the performance, please visit https://www.ifirenzi.com/pennsic-commedia-all-stars/

A Prestige Class, performed by I Genesii at Pennsic 44, 2015

A Sausage Wedding, performed by I Firenzi, at War of the Wings, Atlantia, 2014  (WARNING: contains adult themes)

The Power of Negative Thinking, performed by Commedia All Stars at Pennsic 43, 2014

(The video was edited and posted by Niccolo Bartolazzi from I Verdi Confusii.)

A Family Affair, performed by I Genesii at Pennsic 43, 2014

Oh Capitano, My Capitano!, performed by I Genesii at Pennsic 42, 2013

The Power of Love, written for I Genesii as an alternative for the Pennsic 2013 performance.

My Undead Concubine, performed by I Genesii at Pennsic 41, 2012

A Juicy Bit of Gospel, written for I Genesii as an alternative for the BMDL 12th night performance,  2012.

A Woman of Great Virtue, performed by I Genesii at Pennsic 40, 2011.

Cloak and Dagger, performed by I Genesii at Pennsic 30, 2010, as Two Masters of One Servant. This is the first scenario I wrote for I Genesii. I left it pretty much as I wrote it, just edited for clarity.