Andrea Calmo

Andrea Calmo (1510–1571) was a Venetian actor and author (dramatist) of Commedia dell'Arte. He was one of the pioneers of this type of masked theater, as created for the 16th century Venetian audience. Calmo departed from typical theater norms of the time, focusing less on the text and objectivity, and more on the whole performance as a piece of art in and of itself. Many of his ideas and communications were preserved in the 154 letters that he wrote to a variety of correspondents, from real government officials to possibly made-up women. Judging by the content of his letters, Calmo had some education, as he frequently made use of technical terminology, Latin, and classical allusions. Influence

Prior to Calmo and others like him, the popular form of theatre in Italy was the Commedia Erudita. This form was primarily based in the practices of classical works of theatre and acting. Calmo would use several of these classical modes in his works, though he would mix them in with his own innovations and practices to depart from the original style. Depiction of social class differences

His six comedies are Las Spagnolas (1549), Il Saltuzza (1551), La Fiorina (1552), La Pozione (1552), La Rodiana (1553), and il Travaglio (1556). He also published a number of eclogues. All these works were typically in rhyme. Many of his works played extensively with different regional dialects, dialectical improvisation, and social class differences highlighted through different accents, much of which would become parts of Commedia dell'Arte. Utilization of music, physical comedy, and buffoonery

Calmo viewed the theatre as a way to make a living and kept economic needs in mind while writing, ensuring that people could perform his plays without needing months of preparation. His writing was also designed with theatricality in mind, and was not meant to be taken in primarily as literature but instead as performance. He also would utilize music and methods of physical comedy in his productions, focusing on the sensory effect of the performance. Calmo's use of a variety of different theatrical elements, from dialectical changes, music, complex stage directions, and buffoonery was an inspiration to many practitioners of Commedia dell'Arte who would utilize his methods in their own performances. Surviving commentary on dance terminology

In addition to his theatrical work, Calmo had a degree of experience with contemporary dance, frequently referencing dance terminology in his letters, such as the Bassadanza and Mesura, and doing so in a logical and comprehensible way. Correspondence with other artists

Calmo also corresponded with a number of important artists including Anton Francesco Doni, Pietro Aretino, and Tintoretto, discussing art and scenography. It was the examination of some of these letters that gave rise to the Pantalone character as it is known today, from its physicality to its notable speech patterns.