1. Commedia Dell’Arte Stock Characters Eliette Albrecht and Laurie Ellen Moore

2. *hint for the freshies: if we have bolded something, it’s probably important...and that’s what you want to write down, instead of the extra information around it. :) also, shorthand is your friend.

3. *note: we are only presenting the stock characters that will make an appearance in our skit. Commedia Dell’Arte makes use of many characters and it would take a v. long time to take all of the notes for them down. :)

4. Arlecchino - Harlequin ● He is a servant and wears patched, bright clothing. ● It is sometimes suggested that Arlecchino is of African origin, or a “sunburnt inhabitant of the mountains.” o in any case, he is physically darker than the other characters ● Hoarse voice ● Always carries a slapstick ● Represented by a cat, monkey, or fox o represents his cunning nature ● In love with Columbina...or basically any other girl. Arlecchino is not picky. ● He is different from the other “troublemaking” characters because he’s actually pretty smart. o He can “hatch out schemes...though they rarely work out as planned.” o The plot usually moves along because of some mistake Arlecchino makes. ● He is not dumb, nor particularly intelligent, but rather, clever.

5. Arlecchino examples: Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, Zeke from HSM

6. Capitano - Captain ● A loner ● He wears a “splendid military uniform” ● He is of Spanish origin, and one of the oldest Commedia Stock Characters: he was created to make fun of Spanish soldiers in Italy during the Renaissance. ● Physically large, intimidating--but quite cowardly ● Often has a sword on hand, but he doesn’t ever really use it. ● “Loud basso profundo, turning to castrato squeak when frightened” ● He is represented by a hunting dog or a peacock “who has moulted all but one of his tail feathers” but does not realize it. o Analogy: he swaggers around without realizing how ridiculous he looks. ● Employed by Pantalone to do his dirty work for him, and fears Arlecchino because he is often outwitted by him. ● ***Special trait: Salutes the audience every time he comes onstage “so he can be admired” ● Plot function: PRIDE → HUMILITY

7. Capitano examples: Puss in Boots (from Shrek), Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, Mrs. Darbus from HSM

8. Il Dottore - The Doctor ● Smart and annoying. Shoves his intelligence in your face-- “pompous” ● Usually the father to one of the lovers. ● “Black academic dress”--think robes like what a judge wears. ● Il Dottore “has not cured” anyone, ever. ● Large ● “Fussy” and booming speech ● Represented by a pig, lizard, or owl (owl is purposely ironic) ● Master of Pedrolino and love/hate relationship with Pantalone. ● Plot function: never shuts up and sometimes has to be carried offstage by the other characters while he continues talking. Gives the other characters a break.

9. Il Dottore examples: Dr. Zoidberg from Futurama, Maurice from Beauty and the Beast, Taylor from HSM

10. Pantalone - The Banker ● Has a lot of control, since he is in charge of almost everyone’s finances. o for this reason, he’s usually obeyed. ● Wears black, grey, and red, “preserving the ancient Venetian costume”: “[t]ight-fitting long red trousers... and stockings, a short, tight-fitting jacket, a loose long black cloak..., [red] skull-cap and yellow turkish slippers.” ● Originated from “god of the dying year” at Carnival o “the winter to the innamorati’s summer” ● Usually wears a gold chain, an expensive-looking handkerchief, a dagger, and a very visible money pouch. ● Basically this guy is walking rich man ● Speech is “a high-pitched chicken squawk” ● Represented by the chicken, turkey, or crab. ● Only good aspect: “transparency” ● Plot function: THE ANTAGONIST

11. Pantalone examples: Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh, Leonato from Much Ado About Nothing, Mrs. Darbus from HSM

12. Pedrolino - The Runt ● The “butt of [practical and verbal] jokes,” usually about his cowardice, but “never loses his dignity” ● Wears white, baggy hand-me-downs ● Youthful and cute ● Very light, airy voice o sometimes mute ● Represented by a dog or a baby bird ● A loner o Sometimes used: in this case, he will blame himself for the failure of the relationship (and not the girl who deceived him) ● Plot function: “warm-up” the show, usually can only try to escape what the others have planned for him.

13. Pedrolino examples: Zeke, Martha from HSM

14. Scarramuccia - Musician Soldier ● Boasting and clever, but cowardly o A Capitano of sorts ● Italian AND French in origin: In Italy, he is more of a musician, in France, a soldier. o his personality does not change, though: he’s still “a buffoon.” ● “Talented and artistic, the...Scaramouche...also...sang with a good voice and played the lute…[in most pictures] Scaramouche [is shown] with a lute or a guitar.” ● All-black clothing: tights, a short cloak, a fitted vest ● Plot function: “stir up complications,” quarrelsome, wants to prove himself, gets mad very quickly

15. Scarramuccia variant of the captain- Kelsi from HSM

16. Brighella - Servant ● Usually a “backup” for Arlecchino ● “Thrives on double dealings, intrigue, and foul play” o usually just clever, but can be cruel (a lot more so than Arlecchino) o Liar, never feels bad when caught ● Costume usually “trimmed in green” ● Lazy, but can be fast if he wants to be. ● Represented by a rat, snake, or large cat ● Carries around a dagger to steal others’ money bags ● Plot function: stir up trouble, possibly a “side antagonist”

17. Brighella ex: Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh, George Sr. from Arrested Development, Ryan from HSM

18. La Ruffiana - Flirtatious Woman ● Usually an ex-“lover” (...), can be an old woman or a young lady o Can be a gypsy as well  if she is, she is almost like a witch ● Origin: the Romanichal Gypsies (and thus the fear surrounding them) ● Vengeful tendencies: if her power is not respected at first, the characters learn to do so. ● Sought out by the Lovers for advice OR can try to SPLIT THEM UP because she is chasing the Inamorato ● “She can be the neighborhood gossip, a homeless peasant, a kind old lady who tries to play matchmaker, a long-lost mother, a witch, and a flirt chasing after the men of any age” ● Costume: as flamboyant as possible ● Plot function: adds mystery and sometimes humor, can be on either the protagonist’s or antagonist’s side.

19. La Ruffiana examples: Sharpay Evans from HSM, the evil queen from Disney’s Enchanted

20. Inamorato - Boy in Love ● Son of a wealthy family, pride and joy o High status brought low because he is so infatuated with Inamorata ● Very nice, very masculine, attractive ● Origin: mockery of the Italian Renaissance courts ● Language: regal, “courtly” ● Represented by a lion cub ● Flamboyantly in love; trouble communicating with the Girl because of nerves ● Plot Function: MAIN CHARACTER. o Without him, there is no play. Everything revolves around him, and everyone’s actions onstage revolve around him, too.

21. Inamorato ex: Troy from HSM, Romeo from Romeo and Juliet, pretty much any cliché chick flick hero

22. Inamorata - Girl in Love ● “Prima Donna” ● Used the latest fashion. ● Origin: Italian. ● Young, attractive ● Flirtatious, prone to mood swings, very strong temperament. ● Represented by a pink flamingo or a lovebird. ● Spoke in a refined way, not pompous, and always has the right words to say. ● Plot Function: Depends on the subtype of Inamorata: she may be a passive damsel in distress and have all the action around her, or she may be more proactive.

23. Inamorata ex: Gabriella from HSM, Belle from Beauty and the Beast, any stereotypical chick flick girl

24. Sources (URLs only) ● http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Arlechinno.htm http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Arlechinno.htm ● http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Capitano.htm http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Capitano.htm ● http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Dottore.htm http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Dottore.htm ● http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Innamorati.htm http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Innamorati.htm ● http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Isobella.htm http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Isobella.htm ● http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Pantalone.htm http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Pantalone.htm ● http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Pedrolino.htm http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Pedrolino.htm ● http://www.delpiano.com/carnival/html/scaramouche.html http://www.delpiano.com/carnival/html/scaramouche.html ● http://filer.case.edu/org/commedia/masks/scaramuccia.html http://filer.case.edu/org/commedia/masks/scaramuccia.html ● http://theitalianwayof.blogspot.com/2012/02/scaramuccia.html http://theitalianwayof.blogspot.com/2012/02/scaramuccia.html ● http://www.commedia-dell-arte.com/brighellamask.htm http://www.commedia-dell-arte.com/brighellamask.htm ● http://filer.case.edu/org/commedia/masks/ruffiana.html http://filer.case.edu/org/commedia/masks/ruffiana.html ● https://sites.google.com/site/italiancommedia/the-characters https://sites.google.com/site/italiancommedia/the-characters