Lovers are usually the maypole around which Commedia dell'Arte scenarios are woven. Usually, the story is all about the two lovers falling in love and trying desperately to get together.

In Siege of the Dark Nebula, we decided to poke at their relationship from another angle. What if the lovers have already officially gotten together, but haven't really gotten together? So often, Commedia scenarios revolve around the Lovers' ability to unite, but once that prize is won, what happens then? The shallow attraction that usually forms the narrative for most Commedia scenarios (and every Rom-Com) doesn't seem like it would be the start of any relationship that can last.

So we decided to start our Lovers' stories in the second phase of their relationship - Chad and Stacy have managed to get together, but they listen past each other, focused more on their own skills and goals than a shared future. It's only when their backs are against the wall that they actually discover each other. Really, this is our first show that is primarily a love story in that it's really about falling in love, and finding the humor in the vulnerability of that process.

In developing the Lovers in this permutation, we spent a lot of time mulling over our personal relationships - particularly the moments of discovery that happen within existing relationships. It seems like some of the best moments occur when you're working alongside a lover and you get to see them really in their element. This is what it means to see them at their best. This is who they are when they are most themselves. This is what makes them special. This is why I'm proud that they've chosen me. This is why the nookie tonight will be that much more thorough.

#lovers #scenario