Women in Commedia Today- Character Study: Wilhelmina Slater

Women in Commedia Today- Character Study: Wilhelmina Slater

In my quest to create new commedia characters based on modern-day archetypes, I look a lot into the media, and recurring character types. A big difference I find with characters now is that there are a lot more women. Strong women, with a presence and personality worthy of creating an entire mask for.

With Tut'Zanni, we have actually explored strong female characters a fair amount actually, coming out sort of not-on-purpose, occurring as female versions of the already existing male masks. A female Pantalone (Pantalona) or female Dottore. But although this has been and exciting exploration, and of course there are plenty of archetypes that could have a male and female version, is it 100% accurate? Because these masks were born as male characters, it seems like we're holding ourselves back.

So who are these characters? One that comes quite readily to mind is that of Wilhelmina Slater, from the popular series, Ugly Betty.

Mask Name: TBD (Wilhemina?)

Loves: Money

Needs: Power

Walk: Sexy. Strong. Leads with flexible hip points.

Countermask: hip points tighten, lead with shoulders.

Traits:

-Uses sexuality to attain more power

-Incredibly clever (more clever than intelligent)

-Cutthroat

-Upper Class

Professions: High Fashion, Literary Career, Business Executive. Positions of power.

Location/Background: New York/East Coast

Costume: Think the Capital in Hunger Games. Hair probably tight away from face, but big otherwise. Strong, sleek lines, nothing frilly. Angular.

Mask: Cat-like. Powerful. Intense, upward angles, high cheekbones. Almond-shaped eyes, with large eyeholes, probably heavy eye makeup underneath. Dark lipstick to enhance teeth.

Although this character shares similar drives to say a Pantalone or Brighella, this is a completely different character, and intensely feminine.

Other examples: Claire Underwood, Jessica Rabbit, Cruella DeVille, Cleopatra