Commedia dell'arte

ARLECCHINO (HARLEQUIN)

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Arlecchino is typically cast as the servant of an innamorato (the lovers) or vecchio (old men) much to the detriment of his master's plans. Arlecchino often had a love interest in the person of Columbina, and his lust for her was only superseded by his desire for food or fear of his master. Despite Arlecchino's agility of body, his mind does not entertain the same capacities. Arlecchino is a slow thinker, with some versions portraying him as able to entertain only one thought at a time - and often that he is capable of confusing. This leads to a range of situations, including Lazzi (well-rehearsed comic action) where Arlecchino is tricked into thinking he himself is dead, when other more wily characters of the Commedia dell'Arte point out a range of unlikely symptoms. Pierre Louis Duchartre says that Arlecchino desperately tries to hide his lack of brains, to the point of seeming malicious in so doing; as in one scenario where Arlecchino is diguised as a doctor and prescribes ridiculous "remedies" that would certainly prove fatal if undergone. While Il Capitano was trying to win the heart of a lady for himself, Arlecchino, likes to joke around and embarrass the captain and try to win the lady for himself.

Pagliacchio

Pantalone

Il Capitano

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Brighella

Columbina

Il Dottore

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