In such cases the "extemporal wit," or gagging of the comic actors, was indispensably necessary.
But however intelligible and excusable its origin, it is certain that by the time Shakespeare was writing, the "extemporal wit" of the theatre had come to be a very grave nuisance.
The first were moulded on classical models, recited in their academies to a select audience, and performed by amateurs; but the commedie a soggetto, the extemporal comedies, were invented by professional actors of genius.
The critics on our side of the Alps reproached the Italians for the extemporal comedies; and Marmontel rashly declared that the nation did not possess a single comedy which could endure perusal.
Riccoboni has discussed the curious subject of Extemporal Comedy with equal modesty and feeling; and Gherardi, with more exultation and egotism.
The speaking pantomimes and extemporal comedies which have delighted the Italians for many centuries, are from this ancient source.
It was said that the Riccobonis were imposing on the public credulity; and that their pretended Extemporal Comedies were preconcerted scenes.
These remind us of the extemporal comedy and the pantomimical characters of Italy, invented by actors of genius.
But there were probably some secret aids in this singular art of Extemporal Comedy which the pride of the artist has concealed.
My belief is that the Jigs in question were composed by regular dramatists, and that they were called "Kemp's" merely because he had rendered them popular by his acting, and probably by flashes of extemporal wit.
He had some share in theextemporal play of "The Seven Deadly Sins.
His nose was flat; not so his jests; and, in exchanging extemporal gibes with his audience, * he generally returned a good repartee for a bad one.
After having shown what the Lazzi and Extemporal Comedies were like, let us now turn to the Pantomimical characters associated with their representations.
Stow records of one of our actors that "he had a quick, delicate, refined Extemporal wit.
Both the Lazzi and the Extemporal Comedies were all derived from the one original source, that of the Satirical drama of the Greeks, and perpetuated in the Fabulae Atellanae or Laudi Osci of Italy.
In Kyd's Spanish Tragedy the Extemporal Art is described:-- The Italian tragedians were so sharp of wit, That in one hour of meditation They would perform anything in action.
Disraeli mentions that men of great genius had a passion for performing in these Extemporal Comedies, and, amongst others, the great painter, Salvator Rosa.
Pantomime in Italy had two distinct features, one a species of buffoonery, termed Lazzi, and the other Extemporal or Improvised Comedies.
Of Extemporal Comedies, Riccoboni mentions that: "This kind of spectacle is peculiar to Italy; one cannot deny that it has graces perfectly its own, and which written Comedy can never exhibit.
Sir Nathaniel, will you hear an extemporal epitaph on the death of the deer?
Humphrey of Gloucester, if thou canst accuse Or aught intend'st to lay unto my charge, Do it without invention, suddenly; I with sudden and extemporal speech Purpose to answer what thou canst object.
Assist me, some extemporal god of rhyme, for I am sure I shall turn sonnet.
The above list will hopefully give you a few useful examples demonstrating the appropriate usage of "extemporal" in a variety of sentences. We hope that you will now be able to make sentences using this word.
