Year 11 drama students from Kawana Waters and Aspley State High School experienced play writing with a difference in 2002. Ricki-lee Bernhardt-Turpin, drama teacher at Kawana Waters, and Susan Lonsdale from Aspley State High School took the initiative to incorporate ICTs into their drama classes. Students from both high schools met online in the Learning Place over several weeks to write their Commedia Dell’Arte, lazzi’s⁺ (Italian comedy scripts). The students worked in groups of four and used discussion forums within a Learning Place project room to share dialogue and assemble their scripts. Students were able to share their ideas in an online forum that both classes could access for the duration of the unit. Both teachers collaboratively planned the unit prior to involving the students.

The students were enthusiastic during the theory side of the unit, as a result of the innovative way the section was presented.

‘We wouldn’t have done it if we had to write it by ourselves. It was a lot easier to share our ideas together online’ one student from Kawana Waters said.

Collating the ideas online was also easier for students who were reluctant to share in a class environment. It was also very interesting to see who nominated ideas within each script.

The students shared their ideas by replying to threads in an online forum during the planning stages.

‘Hey its Jeff here, it is great meeting you guys.
This is my outline.
The scene starts with Pantalone instructing Columbina on what to do for the dinner party. Arlecchino shows up on the scene. He eyes out Columbina and then eventually gathers up the courage to ask her if he can help. She reluctantly agrees after they debate on it for a while. He starts to help out but starts to muck everything up (dropping eggs and stuff like that.) Meanwhile throughout the scene Pantalone comes in at regular intervals to yell at Arlecchino and tell Columbina to work faster etc. At some point through the play when Arlecchino, Columbina and Pantalone are all on the stage at once they spot a mouse behind a cupboard. They all get a little freaked out and Columbina yells for Il Capitano. Il Capitano shows up and hilarity ensues with him trying to chase the mouse away. In the end Columbina gets angry and goes to leave and the other three follow her off yelling and trying to get her to stay. They all fail. The End. (Please note: You guys can change this if you want but this is what we are going to use :) Bye, From Jeff, Kelly and Chris.’

Students felt comfortable using online communication this was demonstrated in their casual dialogue:

‘Hay hay … well our names are Jen and Catherine … im sure we'll get on great! um so we have 2 write a lazzi ay? well we have some ideas … and we also want to work wit Arlecchino and Il Columbina, cos he is such a cutie. lookin 4ward 2 meetin ya … ta ta 4 now, and talk 2 ya soon … Catherine and Jenna.’

The teachers marked the students on their online scripts as well as the interaction that took place during their online brainstorming sessions both on and offline. Here is a sample from one group’s final Lazzi:

Lazzi.
Characters: Arlecchino, Columbina, Pantalone and Il Capitano.
(Arlecchino enters and watches from different places)
Arlecchino: columbina …
Columbina: What is it Arlecchino
Arlecchino: Can I …
Columbina: Can you what …
Arlecchino: Can I help you with any thing …
Columbina: NO … (Turns away)
Arlecchino: Please! Please! Please! (Running around her fanatically)
Columbina: I already said no! YOU’RE TOO CLUMSY
Arlecchino: AW come on … columbina … Please … I cook (stupidly runs around trying to cook) I clean (grabs a broom and tries to sweep) Look I sweep for you …
Columbina: No Arlecchino you will get in my way!

Both classes performed their scripts separately and were able to change aspects of the play to suit their different interpretations. Before the end of the unit the classes met at a theatre restaurant and were very eager to put faces to names of their online classmates.

Mrs Bernhardt-Turpin and two of her students were good enough to give up their time in December to share their online experiences with the Learning Place Online Learning Coordinators. During the workshop we were treated to a fantastic impromptu performance by the students and taken through the planning and implementation of the unit.

We would also like to congratulate Ricki-Lee Bernhardt-Turpin on her Australia Day award and her outstanding work and continued commitment.

⁺Commedia Dell’Arte is the ancient Italian improvisational masked comedy born in the Renaissance and performed until the first half of the eighteenth century. The stock characters were universally identified by their individual costumes and masks and never changed regardless of what the scenario. The performers used everyday life material in their performances harping on every class, custom and law.