What are the funniest moments involving:
- Silvio and Clarice
- Dr Lombardi and Pantaloon.
What social / historic ‘pearls of wisdom’ would be RELEVANT about:
- Comedy
- Silvio and Clarice
- Dr Lombardi and Pantaloon.
Open v Closed questions activity
Effective Introductions activity
Watch clips of Silvio and Clarice and Dr Lombardi and Pantaloon.
For the characters make sure you have a clear idea of the following:
- physical appearance, age, height, build, colouring, facial features
- vocal qualities, pitch, pace, tone, accent
- delivery of specific lines: interaction with others, eye contact, spatial relationships, physical contact
- use of space
- Their relationship with other KEY characters
- movement, gesture, gait, posture, energy, demeanour and facial expressions
- style/use of costume/make-up; of props and accessories


- What is their relationship at the start of the play?
- How does it develop over the course of the play?
- What are the go-to scenes for these 2 characters “where they appear together?“
- What sorts of comedy is present? Is it comedy of character (traits pushed to the max) or of interactions (misfortunes, slapstick, vocal insults). Is it the audience that finds humour in the misfortune of the characters.
- What Social/Historical ‘pearls’ – how have the characters been ‘reformed’ by Goldoni
- Watch the clip above – find the scene you have been working on. Make notes on what ‘invented business’ the actors came up with. How did the COMEDY work?
Your answer needs to contain an Introduction (both a quick generic one for the play in general and a specific one explaining your directorial concept/aims. Then a Body of 4-6 paragraphs that ‘zoom in’ on the ‘go-to moments’. This is the bit where you have to use the terminology of acting and directing. A short conclusion if time allows.
You must have quotes.
You must work in your historic/ social knowledge into your writing – NOT just bolt it on to your Introduction.