The Divine Commedia

A troupe of commedia players attempts to present a play, but they are quickly shut down by Father Federico, the local priest. Needing to perform in order to eat, the actors change their play to the story of Adam and Eve. The story takes on a new twist as it is shaped to the personalities of the commedia stock characters: Arlechinno, the mischievous servant; Pantalone, the lecherous miser; Puchinella (Puccio), the ill-tempered humpback; Dottore (Doctor), the academic windbag; Pedrolino, the simple-minded fool; Capitano (Captain), the braggart soldier who is a coward at heart; and the two lovers, Isabella and Flavio—more in love with love than each other. Author John Evarts says the low humor and slapstick of commedia may seem an odd choice to wed to a Bible story, but this type of humor was a major part of the dramatized Bible mystery plays of the Middle Ages.