Royston is a mask character I developed, or discovered rather, during our Commedia block. He's a crusty old man and I realized later that he may be an homage to Ernie - An alcholic war vet who lived in our apartment building when I was an infant. I was enamored with Ernie - he was the business. Royston's first business after coming to life was punishing Santa Claus because he asked Santa for a smiley dancy pony but awoke Christmas morning to find only a pack of smokes and a pot of coffee.
If you remember Punch and Judy... Punch is based on the Commedia character Puncinella. Here - three female Punch characters fight over a vibrating cushion they call "The Magic Carpet". My Punch is the one in the gold shorts. I was all dressed up for a date night with myself when my magic carpet got stolen. This is the final moment when the carpet lands on the floor and we all dive on it which shorts the electricity. In the darkness you hear.Punch #1 - I think I'm on fire
Punch #2 - I smell bacon.
Punch #3 - Lets call the fireman.
All Punches - Yeah, lets call the fireman. It's my turn.
The best part is the rug really did have a motor in it and sounded like a lawn mower when you plugged it in. One of our class mates found it in the lost and found and thought it would be appropriate for our characters.
Royston and friends sing about prison.
So that was the Commedia Dell'Arte. The hardest challenge so far is listening, really listening.
