Commedia dell'arte

COLUMBINA

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Columbina is a comic servant. She is dressed in a ragged and patched dress appropriate to a hired servant. Occasionally, under the name Arlecchina she would wear a motley (jester outfit) similar to her counterpart Arlecchino (or Harlequin). She was also known to wear heavy makeup around her eyes and carry a tambourine which she could use to fend off the amorous advances of Pantalone. She was often the only functional intellect on the stage. Columbina aided her mistress, the innamorata (lover) to gain the affections of her one true love by manipulating Arlecchino and counter-plotting against Pantalone while simultaneously managing the whereabouts of the innamorato (the lovers). She may be a flirtatious and impudent character, indeed a soubrette (a comedy character who is vain and girlish, mischievous, lighthearted, coquettish and gossipy), but without losing her judgment.

Pagliacchio

Pantalone

Il Capitano

Arlecchino

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Brighella

Il Dottore

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