Commedia dellArte STOCK CHARACTERS FROM THE 16 TH

Commedia dell’Arte STOCK CHARACTERS FROM THE 16 TH CENTURY

Pantalone �very rich, but mean and stingy. �has a young wife or an adventurous, rebellious daughter. �many plots revolve around his unwillingness to share his money and women with others. �he always carries a money bag which dangles between his legs. �Pantalone moves slowly and tends to hunch forward, his back bent with age. �often falls on his back and cannot get up!

Pantalone’s Appearance �he wears red, black and grey. �sometimes uses a cane.

Il Capitano �his name is Italian for “the captain”. �he is a soldier who brags loudly of his brave deeds, but is actually very cowardly. �moves with a great “swagger”, trying to impress women and intimidate other men. �marches with chest out when feeling brave, but runs like a little girl when frightened. �carries a long sword, which he always manages not to use. �many plots show him to be a coward.

Il Capitano’s Appearance �wears a uniform of some sort, often with yellow trim to show his cowardice. �often has a moustache under his very long nose.

Il Dottore �his name is Italian for “the doctor”. �although he is supposed to be very wise and well- educated, he does not actually know how to cure any of his patients, often making them sicker instead. �he has a large belly, and walks with tiny steps. �carries a white handkerchief. �like Pantalone, he is very old; they are often friends or rivals or both.

Il Dottore’s Appearance �wears black. �has bushy eyebrows, and red cheeks from drinking too much alcohol.

Arlecchino �you might recognize him as the “Harlequin”. �he is a servant, usually to Pantalone, who treats him very badly – often beating him with his own stick. �moves in a loose and floppy manner, but is quite bent from carrying heavy things for his master, or out of fear of being beaten. �carries a stick or a bat, often used against him. �he is mischievous, but slow-thinking. Much humour comes from his dim-wittedness.

Arlecchino’s Appearance �dresses in vibrant colours, his signature diamond pattern originally came from his patched clothes. �his mask is deep tan or red, suggesting someone who works a lot out of doors.

Pedrolino �he is a young servant, or – occasionally – the younger son of a family. �he is similar to the French clown “Pierrot”. �walks quickly, looking at the ground; is often surprised by what he has walked in to. �tends to fidget and to create humour by imitating other, more powerful characters. �very floppy and child-like in his mannerisms.

Pedrolino’s Appearance �wears all-white clothes that are too big for him. �instead of a mask, sometimes wears white face paint.

Isabella �young daughter of Pantalone, usually involved in some kind of love triangle. �her father wants her to marry one of his old, wealthy friends; she wants to marry someone young and attractive. �along with her young lover, she is one of the “inamorata” (someone who is loved). �Isabella is clever and flirtatious. �she moves gracefully.

Isabella’s Appearance �always beautifully and fashionably dressed. �no mask, but wears heavy make-up.

Columbina �she is a servant. �as a lady’s maid to Isabella, she has a higher status than many of the other servants. �the wife of Arlecchino; even though she scolds him, she loves him and is generally happy and playful. �she moves quickly and nimbly. �she is a cheerful and efficient servant. �Columbina oftens helps the lovers to outsmart those who would keep them apart.

Columbina’s Appearance �her costume often matches the colours and patterns of Arlecchino, her husband. �wears an apron and either no mask, or a mask that covers only her eyes.