h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http//www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A582680

Please review the above item for inclusion in the edited guide.

A working link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A582680

This is an interesting article about something I've never really encountered before, other than hearing the name Harlequin in books. Is this art form the origin of British Pantomime? Many of the features seem to be the same.

Loved it! Needs a little work on the intro, though, sort of starts out like an extended footnote subordinated to an article on European theatre.

~^M^~

If not the origin, it certainly has many of it's features. Early panto's had a 'Harlequinade' a short interlude featuring 'Harlequin' in a short sketch, usually unconnected with the main theme.

The Victorians shifted the emphasis towards wholesome children's entertainment, rather than the 'rated 18' of the commedia. Popular Fairytales provided the source of the story and new characters... i.e. 'The Dame' and the 'Principal Boy'.

The closest we have now is in Cinderella, where Buttons (i.e. Pedrolino) usually gets a scene of his own.

As I mentioned in the article, many situation comedies, films and theatre productions, use what are essentially stock characters and common situations. It would be unfair to say they are all derived from the commedia, but it fairly easy to see that there are some common roots there.

The main difference however is the use of scripts and a plot. Commedia was developed on the spot, the players would agree a basic outline before the show and a conclusion. What came inbetween relied on each players individual skills and imagination.

Ok, consider it under consideration, but thank you for the constructive criticism

Well I must say that was fascinating.
A well written and enjoyable piece of work.

Personally I could not fault it except for a couple of minot typos

An excellent piece that should definitely get into the guide.

Thanks for that Harlequin

Ok, re-hashed and re-wrote the intro, see what you meant though.

Thank you.... just waiting for my first critique though

can't see anything wrong, except a pew punctuation errors, tho i would like to be able to offer something, otherwise it's already perfect! wonderful.

This is really interesting - I'd heard of a lot of the characters at some stage or other, but never seen this full a description of the whole Commedia.

One point about the introduction: I think it would be a good idea to be more specific about the time period you cover. You say in the final section 'The Commedia grew and flourished throughout the 16th and 17th Centuries', but I think it would be better to include this in the introduction.

About the names Vecchi, Inamorata, Zanni - were these the same in the singular as well as the plural? I notice you sometimes say things like 'The Captain is the most attention grabbing zanni'. I'm curious, because I would have expected the singular to be zanno or zanna.

Anyway, it's a very promising entry.
Azara

mmhm you could be right about zanni and zanno, I'm not an italian speaker, so I'm not certain. My only thought would be that it could be said the use of zanni, as being 'of the zanni'as a collective group.

What literature I've read has used the plurals regardless of context.

I await to stand corrected

Await no more

It is my pleasure to inform you that this article has been recommended and accepted for inclusion into the edited guide.
Even as I write it is winging its way to a subeditor. The subediting process may take some time so please be patient - you will be emailed when the article is due to make its appearance on the front page.



Orcus

hey, great! i knew it was good! congradulations.

Congratulations!

Thanks for the recommendation and comments guys and guyesses

You're welcome

Editorial Note: This thread has been moved out of the Peer Review forum because this entry has now been recommended for the Edited Guide.

If they have not been along already, the Scout who recommended your entry will post here soon, to let you know what happens next. Meanwhile you can find out what will happen to your entry here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/SubEditors-Process

Congratulations!

I'm guessing that pics are added in the editing process, and if so please, please, please do a cool Harlequin so I can nick the pic for my personal space.

Greedy

I know.... but I'll replace those d*****d choirboys with it....promise