Dreamers: Isabella Andreini

Episode Summary

Isabella Canali was born in 1562 in Padua to Venetian parents. Though her family was poor, she received a classical education and joined a touring theater troupe at age 14. She excelled at improvisation and played the stock character of the "prima donna inamorata" in Commedia dell'Arte shows, imbuing the role with complexity. Though acting had been considered disreputable, Commedia dell'Arte gained respectability. In 1578 Isabella married Francesco Andreini, future director of her troupe. As leading lady, she helped shape Commedia dell'Arte, performing original works like "The Madness of Isabella." Her plays questioned women's roles, and she wrote the feminist pastoral drama "Myrtilla" in 1588. In 1601, her poetry collection "Rimet" gained her entry into the prestigious literary society Accademia dell'Intenti. She died in 1604 from complications of a miscarriage. Her work ushered in a new era of performance, and she was the most celebrated Commedia dell'Arte actress of her century.

Episode Show Notes

Today’s dreamer is Isabella Andreini (1562-1604), actress, poet, musician, and playwright.

Episode Transcript

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SPEAKER_06: My name is Diana Hock and I'm an operations manager at Morgan & Morgan. At Morgan & Morgan, we've made it really easy. Anything that we need from you, you're able to do from the comfort of your home. You can just dial pound law and you talk to someone like me. SPEAKER_09: If you or any one of your family has been injured, call Morgan & Morgan, America's largest injury law firm. We've collected over $15 billion for our clients. It's easy. Visit forthepeople.com for an office near you. SPEAKER_05: Hello, and welcome back. From Wonder Media Network, I'm Jenny Kaplan, and this is Encyclopedia Wamanica. If you're just tuning in for the first time, here's the quick version of what we're doing on this show. In five minutes every weekday for a year, we're telling the stories of women throughout history who you may or may not know about, but definitely should. Every month has a theme, and this month we're talking about dreamers, women to remember due to their creative prowess. Today's dreamer was a famous actress, poet, musician, and playwright in 16th century Italy. She was the first European actress to acquire social and cultural respectability and artistic fame. Let's talk about Isabella Andrini. Isabella Canali was born in 1562 in Padua to Venetian parents. Her family was poor, but she received a classical education and spoke several languages. When she was 14 years old, Isabella joined the Compagnie de Comice Gielosi, a touring theater company that performed for the highest social circles of Italy and France. The Gielosi troupe performed Commedia dell'Arte, the popular theater form of the era. Commedia dell'Arte was partly scripted and partly improvised. The premises of shows relied on well-known character archetypes and stock situations. Actors played off of this scripted foundation. From very early on in her career, Isabella often played the role of the enamored woman, a specific archetype of the time known as the prima donna in Amorata. But she took the basic trope and made it much more complex and entertaining. She excelled at improvisation, and her influence helped to shape the art form, making it more spontaneous and funny. It's important to note that for much of history, acting wasn't considered a respectable profession. Commedia dell'Arte marked a new era of recognition and respectability for actors. Finally, acting was no longer seen as semi-synonymous with prostitution. In 1578, Isabella met and married Francesco Andreini. Francesco would eventually become the director of the Giulosi company. The couple had seven children together. Isabella became the leading lady of the troupe and a member of the administration of the Giulosi company. She even created original works that the troupe performed, including one entitled, The Madness of Isabella, which she performed for the wedding of Ferdinando I of the Medici and Christine of Lorraine in 1589. While the play was mostly improvised, many details are still remembered today. For example, we know that Isabella used a variety of languages and dialects to enhance a feeling of madness. Isabella also performed for King Henry IV of France and his wife, Maria de' Medici, in 1599. Isabella's plays largely questioned the roles of women in her era. She wrote, Myrtilla, a feminist pastoral drama in 1588, and Rimet, a collection of 359 poems and sonnets in 1601. Rimet was well-received and it was translated into French two years after publication. Isabella's writing skills and correspondence with contemporary thinkers scored her entry into the male-only literary society called the Accademia dell'Intenti of Pavia in 1601. In other words, she quite literally joined an old boys' club. Isabella died in 1604 due to complications from miscarrying her eighth child. Her husband, Francesco, then dissolved the Gelosi group. Still, the family legacy endured as their eldest child, Giovanni Battista, became a professional actor, author, and the founder of the famed Fidelii Acting Group. Isabella Andrini ushered in a new era of performance and her impact on theater and the profession of acting last to this day. She was the most celebrated Commedia dell'Arte actress of her century by the time she died and was known and praised across Europe. Tune in tomorrow to hear the story of another incredible dreamer. We'll be heading closer to home in honor of US Independence Day. This month, Encyclopedia Wamanica is brought to you by Casper. Casper mattresses and products let today's dreamers get the sleep they need to turn their ideas into reality. Special thanks to Liz Kaplan, my sister and the amazing researcher behind this collection of women. Talk to you tomorrow. SPEAKER_07: Upgrading in good condition after six plus months with 50% paid off. Upgrade ends financing and any promo credits. See T-Mobile.com. 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