How does Arlecchino walk?

Arlecchino never walks in a straight line. He is too conniving to be that predictable. Instead, he walks in a zig-zag. To a steady beat of 3/4 (not swung as in Waltz, though), he steps to the left, then center, then right, then center, then left, etc.

How does Pantalone walk commedia dell arte?

Stance. The traditional Pantalone stance is that of a hunch-backed old man. He walks with his hips forward, allowing him to make larger strides when he walks. The hunched shape restricts his legs, which are bent and turned out at the knees.

How does Arlecchino speak?

When speaking with others, Arlecchino must speak with hands otherwise it throws on the physical dynamic and tradition of the character. Arlecchino is a very witty character, as are most servant characters in most theatrical productions. Because of his nature, he will speak fast but the physicality must keep up.

How does Harlequin walk commedia dell arte?

The primary aspect of Arlecchino was his physical agility. He was very nimble and performed the sort of acrobatics the audience expected to see. The character would never perform a simple action when the addition of a cartwheel, somersault, or flip would spice up the movement.

How does a Zanni move?

Zanni Running includes swift movements with legs kicking out in front of him with his toes pointed. His arms move opposite to his legs. Zanni Jubilant involves skipping on his toes with his center of gravity moving from side to side. This type of walk also involves the hands being placed on the belt.

ARLECCHINO | Commedia dell'Arte with Dr. Chiara D'Anna (Session 2)

How does il Dottore walk?

Il Dottore walks with his chest up, knees bent, and with a bouncy movement, taking small steps; he gesticulates with his hands and fingers, making room around him by keeping others at bay. He stands in one position and plants himself to make a point.

What does Arlecchino mask look like?

Physically, Arlecchino is described as wearing a costume covered in irregular patches, a hat outfitted with either a rabbit or fox's tail, and a red and black mask. The mask itself is identified by carbuncles on the forehead, small eyes, a snub nose, hollow cheeks, and sometimes bushy brows with facial hair.

What body part does Arlecchino lead with?

Arlecchino leads with his hands and eyes, eager to please his master, Pantelone. Brighella- Brighella is the highest of the masters. He is a happy and affectionate servant to Il Capitano.

Are Arlecchino and Harlequin the same?

Harlequin, Italian Arlecchino, French Arlequin, one of the principal stock characters of the Italian commedia dell'arte; often a facile and witty gentleman's valet and a capricious swain of the serving maid.

How old is Arlecchino?

However, Zan Ganassa, an early Italian actor from Bergamo, is conventionally believed to have introduced Arlecchino in the late 16th century. The Italian actor Tristano Martinelli of Mantua, a member of the Raccolti troupe, popularised the character in Paris during 1584–1585.

Why does Harlequin wear a mask?

Harlequin is often associated with wearing a black mask because that color was associated with trickery and mischievousness. We used paper plates and colored pencils to create a mask that also shows our more mischievous sides.

What is a Zanni mask?

In the early days of Commedia dell'Arte, the Zanni mask used in the theatre was a full face mask with a long nose. It developed from here into a half mask covering the upper half of the face only with an extended, long nose. The longer the nose on the mask, then the more stupid was the character.

How does Il Capitano walk?

His back is straight, and he prances with a bounce in his step. All of his walks are very showy and as a result, quite slow. Il Capitano's run is prompted by any loud sound, scary object or from being overwhelmed. When this happens, he drops everything, throws his head back, kicks his feet forward and howls is fear.

What are physical traits of Pantalone?

Pantaloon dressed in a tight-fitting red vest, red breeches and stockings, a pleated black cassock, slippers, and a soft brimless hat. Later versions of the character sometimes wore long trousers (pantaloons). His mask was gaunt and swarthy with a large hooked nose, and he had a disorderly gray goatee.

What hand gesture might Pantalone use?

One hand behind back or holding purse, other hand on cane, bending upper body at 45 degrees.

Is brighella a servant?

Originally one of the comic servants, or zanni, of the commedia, Brighella was a jack-of-all-trades whose loyalty as a soldier, hangman's varlet, assassin, or gentleman's valet could be easily bought. Because of his almost sentimental view of love, though, the young lovers could trust him.

How did Harlequin become Harlequin?

In the story, the Joker takes Harleen Quinzel to the chemical plant where he originated and pushes her into a vat of chemicals against her will, which bleaches her skin and drives her insane, resulting in her transformation to Harley Quinn, similar to the Joker's transformation in his origins.

Who is Arlecchino's master?

Commedia characters are fixed types who fall into one of three categories: The Servants (eg: Arlecchino or Columbina) The Masters (eg: Pantalone) The Lovers (eg: Isabella and Flavio )

What does Zanni look like?

Dei Zanni (“the zanni”) was a generic term for the commedia dell'arte itself. The zanni's costumes consisted of a wood or leather half mask with hair and beard glued to it, a loose blouse, wide trousers, and a wide-brimmed or tall conical hat with long feathers.

Who were Harlequin and Columbine?

Harlequin and Columbine are stock figures in the Commedia dell'Arte, a form of Italian theatre in which the same recognizable characters play a role in different sketches. These performances were extremely popular in the 18th century.

Why does Arlecchino wear a mask?

Arlecchino 's costume and mask are significant because they are a reflection of his energetic personality. Physically, Arlecchino is described as wearing a costume covered in irregular patches, similar to the clothes of a clown.

What is a Volto mask?

The "volto" or "larva" mask was originally always a white mask, always worn with a three cornered hat and in fact, attached to the hat. The term "larva" refers to "ghosts" and these white masks under the hat must have truly seemed ghostly on a moon lit night in Venice at a time when there was only dim street lighting.

What is a Bauta mask?

Bauta Masks

The Bauta is a mask which covers the whole face, with a stubborn chin line, no mouth, and lots of gilding. The Bauta was introduced in the 16th Century and was worn by the upper classes in Venetian society frequently during the year, but by the masses during the Carnival.