Days celebrating mushrooms seem to keep cropping up like... fungus! But we'll take an opportunity to celebrate another silly and fun holiday given that our favorite Japanese kyōgen farce has inspired so many plays about mushrooms in our troupe. Including "The Mushrooms of Arcadia", our first attempt at a full three-act commedia dell'arte pastorale that also parodying Super Mario Bros staged as a thematic dramatic reading this past spring at Cleveland ConCoction!

You can watch the full recording here on YouTube!

#CommediaDellArte #Commedia #Improv #Improvisation #Theater #Fantasy #Mario #MarioBros #SuperMarioBros #Parody

Turning #Inktober into a Commedia dell'Arte Scenario Writing Challenge! Again!

Day 15 Prompts: Observe & Ragged

After failing to find solutions or get help by convention means, many residents of the town have decided to look for the strange wildman hermit who lives in the woods but sometimes passes through. Flaminia has exhausted seeking advice on love and has come to the (dubious) conclusion to try asking someone radically different. Flavio has given up on love so desires to know how to live in total isolation. Isabella wishes to find a good hiding spot to avoid an arranged marriage. Vittoria is also looking for a hiding spot to... dispose of "items" that are no longer "wanted". Pasquella fears the wildman may be the result of an enchantment gone wrong. And Capitano Testosteroné fears he must make sure he's told everyone of his (supposed) exploits!

#CommediaDellArte #Commedia #Improv #Improvisation #Theater #SquiresCastle

One of the (albeit many) highlights of Pennsic 52 this past summer was being invited to perform commedia dell'arte to kickoff the Kingdom of Acre's bardic circle! We brought one of our favorite Follies of Fools, "Pantalone's Protégé" - and Queen Una the First even joined the production as themselves!

Check back later this week for the full recording of this short play. You'll be able to find the link on our LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/PlayersPatchwork

#CommediaDellArte #Commedia #Improv #Improvisation #Theater #Pennsic #PennsicWar #SCA #SocietyForCreativeAnachronism #MySCA

Turning #Inktober into a Commedia dell'Arte Scenario Writing Challenge! Again!

Day 14 Prompts: Future & Trunk

Pantalone and Dottore Gratiano went on a hunting trip and took a nap in the shelter of an ancient tree. However, when they woke, seemingly for some unknown reason many years have passed! The world they knew is gone and they must now face the strange futurism of the 1600s! It seems Dottore's servant Arlecchino accidentally prompted an industrial revolution with Dottore's gadgets leading to the downfall of merchantism to Pantalone's horror. Shockingly it's become illegal for fathers to dictate betrothal terms to their children and free love reigns and many women openly dress as their hero "Fabritio". But there may be hope when the two old vecchii encounter an underground resistance lead (supposedly) by Capitano Testosteroné!

#CommediaDellArte #Commedia #Improv #Improvisation #Theater #Pennsic #PennsicWar #SCA #SocietyForCreativeAnachronism #MySCA

Turning #Inktober into a Commedia dell'Arte Scenario Writing Challenge! Again!

Day 13 Prompts: Rebuild & Drink

An unwell Pantalone takes a mysterious potion concocted by Pasquella and he suddenly feels more youthful vitality than he has ever before. Soon nearly everyone is drinking the elixir - except for Capitano Testosteroné who publicly claims he doesn't need such (but secretly is trying to steal some though failing). However, as night falls the potion has a strange effect and everyone dosed transforms into fantastic beasts! A terrified Capitano and a few others must deal with this frightening outcome and restore their friends and neighbors while also contending with Dottore Gratiano, a traveling naturalist who wants to collect these strange creatures for his macabre menagerie!

#CommediaDellArte #Commedia #Improv #Improvisation #theater #ClevelandCulturalGardens #OneWorldDay #OWD #Fantasy

Turning #Inktober into a Commedia dell'Arte Scenario Writing Challenge! Again!

Day 12 Prompts: Crystal & Shredded

While Capitano is couriering precious jewels, he is ambushed and robbed by a mysterious bandit. Not wanting to admit how easily he was beaten, Capitano claims he was attacked by a horrible monster that shredded his crew leaving only the braggart captain as strong enough to survive and the town is terrified. Meanwhile, a "newcomer" calling "himself" "Fabritio" is trying to woo the widow Vittoria with jewelry; though she is enamored, sadly Vittoria just got wed to Pantalone but perhaps he might have an unfortunate encounter with the monster.

#CommediaDellArte #Commedia #Improv #Improvisation #Theater #Pennsic #PennsicWar #SCA #SocietyForCreativeAnachronism #MySCA

Turning #Inktober into a Commedia dell'Arte Scenario Writing Challenge! Again!

Day 11 Prompts: Throne & Sting

Opulento, the enchanter of Arcadia, fears his art and thus his rule will soon come to an end as a prophecy may be be fulfilled. To keep the nymph Filli from falling in love with shipwrecked survivors, the magician transforms her into a tree. However, the spell grows awry as the enchanted Filli begins to grown thorny vines that cover all of Arcadia. The denizens of the island and the strangers are not only separated and lost from each other but any prick causes a random enchantment!

#CommediaDellArte #Commedia #Improv #Improvisation #Theater #Pennsic #PennsicWar #SCA #SocietyForCreativeAnachronism #MySCA #Fantasy #Magic

As we race toward Halloween, the kitties of the Patchwork Palace and our commedia dell'arte skellies wish you to have a most spirited #Caturday!

#CommediaDellArte #Commedia #Improv #Improvisation #Theater #Cat #Kitty #Cats #Kitties #Skeleton #Skelies #Halloween

Capitano Testosteroné wants to know if you are today's date?

😏

#CommediaDellArte #Commedia #Improv #Improvisation #Theater

Turning #Inktober into a Commedia dell'Arte Scenario Writing Challenge! Again!

Day 10 Prompts: Insight & Sweep

When the Doge sends Capitano Testosteroné to investigate a crime, Pantalone disguises himself as his maid Colombina, fearful some of his past exploits have been exposed. However, Brighella is the current culprit and he wants to take the opportunity to disguise himself as the miser but is beaten to the punch by Colombina herself who pretends to be her own boss as a scheme to let Pantalone's daughter avoid an arranged marriage with the Doge. But Isabella doesn't know this yet so has disguised herself as the mercenary Fabritio to team up with Capitano to apprehend Pantalone. Will the two investigators fall in love? Will Colombina escape their sleuthing? Will Pantalone be happier as a maid and cooking for Arlecchino? And who will Brighella try to disguise himself as now?!

#CommediaDellArte #Commedia #Improv #Improvisation #Theater #Midrealm #SCA #SocietyForCreativeAnachronism #MySCA

Inspired by a future gig (though this will likely not be the staged play), earlier this week we randomly wrote a commedia dell'arte scenario titled "Eat or Defeat", a new Queen Niphleseth & the Chitterling Sausage Warriors of Wild Island play!

However, stay too for news on the upcoming appearance as we can share.

#CommediaDellArte #Commedia #Improv #Improvisation #Theater #OSU #OhioState #Sausage

Turning #Inktober into a Commedia dell'Arte Scenario Writing Challenge! Again!

Day 9 Prompts: Caldara & Heavy

After hearing of a possible archeological discovery by Domenico Fontana, Dottore Gratiano has launched an expedition into the hillside country of Mount Vesuvius to investigate rumors of the.... interesting wall frescos. Unsurprisingly Capitano, Pantalone, and several other associates are eager to join him. However, Brighella has a secret vault of stolen goods nearby he wants to keep a secret. At least until an annoyed Vittoria tricks the men into believing the volcano is about to erupt again prompting a frantic evacuation with Brighella now needing to pretend his stash are ancient artifacts he needs help carrying!

#CommediaDellArte #Commedia #Improv #Improvisation #Theater #Volcano

The Royal University of Midrealm (RUM) is this Saturday, October 11 in the Barony of Ayreton (near Chicago) for a day of learning and teaching on a variety of SCA topics!

More info on the event: https://ayreton.midrealm.org/royal-university-of-the-midrealm-fall-2025/

#CommediaDellArte #Theater #Bardic #Music #Teaching #MiddleKingdom #MiddleKingdomSCA #Midrealm #SocietyForCreativeAnachronism #SCA #MySCA

Turning #Inktober into a Commedia dell'Arte Scenario Writing Challenge! Again!

Day 8 Prompts: Dynamic & Reckless

Dottore Gratiano intends to take Leonardo da Vinci's designs for fantastic contraptions and make them a reality! He's recruited (the secretly terrified) Capitano Testosteroné to pilot an aerial screw (he misunderstand what he was signing up for) but Brighella wants to steal the aircraft as part of a scheme to rob the Doge's vault. Meanwhile, "Fabritio" is looking for a quick escape from town before Isabella is married to an unsuitable suitor. And a rival inventor wants to use Arlecchino to test an ornithopter - and he's so foolish it just might work!

#CommediaDellArte #Commedia #Improv #Improvisation #Theater #Pennsic #PennsicWar #SCA #SocietyForCreativeAnachronism #MySCA

A behind-the-scenes look at our commedia dell'arte rehearsal at Pennsic 52 this past summer when sometimes your Players of the Patchwork have to fill in for multiple roles even within the same scene! 🤣

Full video from the actual performance of "The Unusual Suspects" coming soon!

#CommediaDellArte #Commedia #Improv #Improvisation #Theater #Pennsic #PennsicWar #SCA #SocietyForCreativeAnachronism #MySCA #Rehearsal #BTS #BehindTheScenes

First post.. Better make it a good one!#commediadellarte #ai #jacquescallot

Turning #Inktober into a Commedia dell'Arte Scenario Writing Challenge! Again!

Day 7 Prompts: Discovery & Starfish

When Capitano Testosteroné's ship is sunk off the shore of Venice, everyone fears the worst (some because of lost cargo or future escape plans) but he was secretly rescued by a mermaid! No one believes Capitano but there is a mysterious young woman named Calypso who doesn't seem to understand modern society. Meanwhile, aspiring naturalist Dottore Gratiano believes he has found new sea life, such as a pair of starfish (held together with kelp) which both Brighella (who promised Vittoria new fashion but it went down on Capitanos' ship) and Calypso are also very interested in. Meanwhile, a young traveler named "Fabritio" hoped to escape Venice when Capitano left port again but is now stuck as worry that the missing Isabella (who had recently been arranged to be wed to a wealthy old man) might have been lost in the storm! Will Dottore discover Calypso's true identity - and how far will Capitano (in both debt for his life being saved and in love) go to protect her secrets?

#CommediaDellArte #Commedia #Improv #Improvisation #Theater #ClevelandConCoction #CleCon #SciFiCon #Mermaid

October 6 is Mad Hatter Day!

In our commedia dell'arte farces, sometimes a hat is enough to be a (paper-thin) disguise that fools all the other fools! But in real life, your hat can be a easy expression of how you want to present yourself to the world.

"Hats have power. Hats can change you into someone else." --Catherynne M. Valente

#MondayMotivation

#CommediaDellArte #Commedia #Improv #Improvisation #Theater #Pennsic #PennsicWar #SCA #SocietyForCreativeAnachronism #MySCA

Turning #Inktober into a Commedia dell'Arte Scenario Writing Challenge! Again!

Day 6 Prompts: Pedestal & Pierce

After Capitano (supposedly) saved the city from attack at the (supposedly) cost of his life, a statue was commissioned of him to mark his (supposed) heroics, posed demonstrating one of his famous fighting moves. However, through a misinterpretation of the word "thrust", the statue is not fit for public view! Worse, it's soon stolen! And even more surprising, Capitano might still be alive after all?

While thankful the city was saved from invasion, Pantalone was also pleased Capitano's loss would mean his daughter Isabella wouldn't marry him; however she demanded he spend way too much to commission the statue. Vittoria is upset because that was money she planned to inherit from her new husband Pantalone after he "tragically" perished in the war. Will the statue be found? Or, more so, will *all* the pieces of the statue be found (some more prominent then others)? Is the attack over? And what did happen to the Spanish captain?

#CommediaDellArte #Commedia #Improv #Improvisation #Theater #Pennsic #PennsicWar #SCA #SocietyForCreativeAnachronism #MySCA

If you plan to vote in the election next month, TODAY (Monday, October 6) is the DEADLINE to register for Ohio voters! Check and make sure that you are still registered! Make sure your vote will be counted and your voice will be heard!

Important Dates for Ohio Voters:
➤10/6: Registration Deadline
➤10/7-11/3: Early & Absentee Voting
➤10/28: Absentee Ballot Application Deadline
➤11/4: Election Day

#Vote #Election

#CommediaDellArte #Commedia #Improv #Improvisation #Theater #ConfluenceSFF #ScienceFictionConvention #SciFiCon