John Achorn [1-15-2001] message to Yahoo Commedia group.

Tartaglia was one of the Neapolitan masks that made it's way into the northern commedia tradition by the late 17th Century, along with Pulcinella, Smeraldina and Coviello...

He is the stammerer, in the same archetypal class as Dottore; his distinctive characteristic was large round spectacles [indicating his myopic vision] - he wore lighter colored clothes than the black of Dottore... he was a father figure in Naples but became a buffoonish official in the north... Goldoni - your author - was the first to use him in this wise in his plays.

If you can get a hold of a copy of Giacomo Oreglia's book, "The Commedia Dell'Arte" in your local library, there are some nice pictures of him and more info about him.

Think of him as an authority figure betrayed by his own stuttering... often, like Porky Pig, becoming angry at the word he is tripping over.
Hope this is helpful

Dave Anderson [1-17-2001] message to Yahoo Commedia group.
Best wishes on your first Tartaglia experience.

Want to add a bit of information for you to consider.

Tartaglia can indeed be a stutterer, but does not need to stutter. He is usually played from a position of fear, like a mouse. However, the contra-mask of Tartaglia is very exciting, because here we see him confident and bold. He is often this way when dreaming, or when alone... but the rare moment when he takes a stand can be great.

I have seen him played as a figure of authority, but also as a high-ranking servant.

The two masks I am most familiar with for Tartaglia lend themselves to two very different methods of performance. The first is a mask with many circular ridges around the eyes... which gives the impression that the character is myopic... and suggests thick glasses. He is more of the stutterer, the bumbler. The other mask I have played is from Sartori, and it is much more dignified. The eyes are like slits, hardly open, and it plays more poetically, as though Tartaglia may be constantly smelling flowers, ie. lost in his own world.

Modern Tartaglias are Walter Mitty (Danny Kaye), Woody Allen, Niels on Frasier.

I have played T. on a few occasions, and it can be difficult and rewarding. Have fun, and play!

Jay Cross [12-31-2002]
Kompani Komedi had a Tartaglia as a minor character in their six-character show that I've seen a tape of. They did a lot of fart jokes with him, including an amusing misdirection in which he looks like he's going to sneeze, and then cuts a ripe one. This character stammered, wore big round glasses, and was father of the male lover. Otherwise the character came off a little like 'Pat' Julia Sweeney's annoyingly androgynous character.