A ''canovaccio'' is a
scenario
In the performing arts, a scenario (, ; ; from Italian , "that which is pinned to the scenery") is a synoptical collage of an event or series of actions and events. In the ''commedia dell'arte'', it was an outline of entrances, exits, and actio ...
used by ''
commedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte was an early form of professional theatre, originating from Theatre of Italy, Italian theatre, that was popular throughout Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries. It was formerly called Italian comedy in English and is a ...
'' players. It consisted only of a list of acts and scenes; the details were left to the improvisation of the actors. Actors in the ''commedia dell'arte'' thus had to be endowed with an inventive mind since the success of the
play depended largely on their creativity and above all on their ''
lazzi'' (jokes and gags). The spotlight fell on the actors rather than on the play itself.
The use of
improvisation
Improvisation, often shortened to improv, is the activity of making or doing something not planned beforehand, using whatever can be found. The origin of the word itself is in the Latin "improvisus", which literally means un-foreseen. Improvis ...
on top of ''canovaccio'' enabled the avoidance of
censorship
Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information. This may be done on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient". Censorship can be conducted by governmen ...
because censors cannot censor that which is not written. Since the dialogue was almost entirely improvised on stage, actors and theatre companies could get away with almost anything.
In the late 19th century scholars began searching for documentary sources on the history of the theatre in Italy.
[Anna Maria Testaverde (2007) ''Introduzione a I canovacci della Commedia dell'Arte']
/ref> Over a thousand documents in manuscript or print were discovered that consisted of ''canovacci'' in numerous collections or individually, and usually anonymous.[
]
References
Commedia dell'arte
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