What are Arlecchino and Pulcinella?
Three of the traditional Italian Carnival masks are synonymous with the emergence of the Commedia dell’Arte in the second half of the 16th century with the most popular being Arlecchino (The Harlequin), followed by Gianduja and Pulcinella.
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.
What props does Arlecchino use?
Instead, great use was made of props including animals, food, furniture, watering devices, and weapons. The character Arlecchino bore two sticks tied together, which made a great noise on impact.
Where does the name Arlecchino come from?
The name itself seems to be related to the Old French word for “ghost”, i.e. hellequin, which, in turn, comes from the Germanic root for “hell”. Starting from Dante’s Inferno, this demon would therefore develop into a comic character.
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.
What animal is Zanni?
The Zanni character was a buffoon or clown and known in those days as a simpleton or ‘stupid incompetent fool’!
What does Zanni look like?
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.
What Colours does Arlecchino wear?
The costume itself undergoes a series of changes over the years: at first, his clothes were made of a bizarre mixture of coloured pieces of cloth, that is the only rags he could afford. Later, his new close-fitting one-colour suit starts being covered with red, blue, green and yellow lozenges.
Who is Arlecchino?
Arlecchino is the most famous commedia dell’arte character in history. He has evolved into the Harlequin of later centuries and today, he is also a stereotype for fools, clowns, and pantomimes.
Who is Arlecchino in La traviata?
Arlecchino is one of the youngest characters of the comedy and the use of this character in the Commedia dell’Arte has been traced back to as early as 1593. Arlecchino’s usual role is that of a faithful valet or servant, but in this context he is also the clown, the acrobat providing lots of comic relief!
What is an Arlecchino mask?
The Arlecchino mask is one of the most popular masks in the Commedia dell’Arte series. It was traditionally worn by the character Arlecchino (Harlequin in English) who was cast as a bit of a dim-wit, silly, simple minded person and perpetually hungry, again, in the Zanni genre.
What is Commedia dell’arte?
The Commedia dell’Arte was a form of public entertainment that succeeded the classical Roman theater in Italy. Like classical theater, Commedia performers wore leather masks to represent stock characters and often performed in amphitheaters to large audiences.