Commedia Dell Arte

1. Commedia dell arte
The Stock Characters

2. The MASTERS

3. Who are the Masters?
Pantalone
Il Dottore
Il Capitano
Isabella
The Lovers

4. Pantalone
Origins – Venetian
Merchant
Status – Top of the
order, Pantalone
has money
Costume – Black
jacket, red tights,
yellow shoes

5. Stance – Old man’s
stoop
Walk – Small steps
Movement –
looking around,
falls on back with
bad news
Gesture – Hands
Active/Behind
Back

6. Characteristic –
Everything can be
bought
Animal – Chicken
Repertorio – Never
well, news is
always bad

7. Pantalone’s mask

8. Il Dottore
Origins – Carnival
figure
Status – Bachelor
or widower; One of
the father to the
lovers
Costume – Black
academic dress

9. Stance – Big belly;
weight on heels
Walk – Small steps
in a figure eight
Movement – Static
Gesture – Needs all
the space for
himself

10. Characteristic –
Knows everything
about everything
Animal – Pig
Repertorio – I have
a story about that..

11. Il Dottore’s mask

12. El Capitano
Origins – fake
Spanish mercenary
Status – A loner;
Pretends high status
but loses it
Costume – Military
attire

13. Stance – In
attention or stand at
ease
Walk – Big steps –
maximum space
Movement –
Straight back, big
strides
Gesture –
Extravagant and
sustained

14. Characteristic
- Political - if the Turks invade, he
becomes a Turk
-Total coward
-Danger to himself
-Thinks he is good looking and God’s
gift
Animal – Peacock
Repertorio – I’d crush you like an
onion between my teeth

15. El Capitano’s mask

16. The Lovers
Name: Immorati
Physical: young,
attractive, latest
fashion
Mask: No mask
Walk: ballet/based on
dance master
Gesture: Airy
Characteristic: Can’t
solve own problems

17. Isabella
Origins – from a
16
th
century
Status – Prima
Donna – daughter
of Pantalone
Costume – Well
dressed

18. Speech – refined
Characteristics
-Flirtatious,
provocative and
stubborn

19. The Servants

20. Who are the Servants?
The servants are made up of the
ZANNI
Working class and bottom of the
rung but even they have a pecking
order
They include : Arlecchino; Brighella;
Colombina; Perdolino; Pulcinella
Tartagalia;

21. Arlecchino
Origins: Zanni –
servant from the
country. Means “little
devil.”
Status: Usually servant
to Pantalone.
Relationships: In love
with Columbina or
Isabella
Costume: Peasant
costume – patches

22. Props: Slapstick
Stance: Bent ready to
jump, hands in belt
Walk: Zanni walk,
more ballet/3time step
Movement: Mask first,
then body
Gesture: Slow brain –
fast movement/hands

23. Characteristics:
never the loser –
not malicious
Animal:
cat/monkey
Audience:
Sometimes aware
of them
Repertorio: Actions
like falling down

24. Arlecchino’s Mask

25. Brighella
Origins: First zanni –
“brig” means trouble
Status: Base Zanni/
Head waiter
Relationship:
Unscrupulous – will
sell mother to make
money
/ never victim
Costume: White with
green chord

26. Props: dagger
Stance: first
position ballet,
chest forward
Walk: Zanni torso
side to side, head
straight
Movement: cat like
panther

27. Characteristics:
Astute, humorous,
quick-witted,
sarcastic
Animal: Lazy cat
toying with mouse
Repertorio: Always
hungry, thinks he’s
cool

28. Brighella mask

29. Colombina
Status: Maid to
immortia (lovers)
Relationships:
Loves Arlecchino
and is friendly;
pestered by
other men
Costume: maids
dress

30. Props: basket
Stance: One knee bent
- other extended

Walk: Flick of foot –
zanni walk
Movements: fast and
nimble
Gesture: on hips, good
mimic

31. Characteristics:
Only rational
person, self-
sufficient, non-
negative
Animal – Doe
Audience – With
them, can see what
fools the rest are.

32. Pulcinella
Origins: Means “little
chicken”
Status: banker/lawyer
Relationship: has a
loved one/
domesticated
Physical: humped
back
Costume: baggy white
costume with belt

33. Props: crude – short
slapstick
Stance: weight on
one leg
Walk: small/ jerky
skip
Movements: slow
and top heavy
Gesture: Broad and
sparring

34. Characteristics:
Either played stupid
pretending to be
clever or clever
pretending to be
stupid
Animal: Rooster
Audience: Direct
and quarrelsome

35. Pulcinella mask

36. Pedrolino or Pierrot
Origins: developed
over time
Status: bottom of
pecking order
Relationship: youngest
son
Physical: small
Costume: baggy white
costume – don’t fit

37. No Mask – white
face
Stance: Third
position
Walk: straight lines
Movements: head
moves like a
chicken
Gesture: elbows up

38. Characteristics:
Strong in the face
of misery. Totally
honest; always tired
Animal: Pack mule
– human animal
Audience: A loner
– sometimes
doesn’t speak – a
mute

39. Tartaglia
Origins: Means “to
stammer”
Status: banker/lawyer
Relationship: older
man – friend of the
masters
Physical: pot bellied
and completely bald
Costume: green and
yellow

40. Stance: weight on
heels; belly forward
Walk: a waddle
Characteristics:A
stammer – get stuck
on words and has to
use others
Animal: Duck