Zanni: servants, clown characters such as Arlecchino (also known as Harlequin), Brighella, Scapino, Pulcinella and Pedrolino. Vecchi: rich old men, master figures like Pantalone and il Dottore. Innamorati: upper-class young lovers who are said to have names like Flavio and Isabella.
What is Zanni doing?
Zanni, plural zanni or zannis, a fundamental servant figure in Italian improvisational theater known as the commedia dellarte. The Zanni were buffoons, clowns, and servants of all trades. All possessed common sense, intelligence, pride, and a penchant for pranks and intrigue.
What is Vecchi in the Commedia dell’arte?
Vecchio (Italian: [ˈvɛkkjo] plural vecchi, meaning elder or simply elder) is a category of aged male characters in the Italian commedia dellarte. The main members of this group are Pantalone, Il Dottore and Il Capitano.
What does a Zanni look like?
The Zannis costume usually consists of loose white clothing. This garment was traditionally made from sacks of flour. It resembled the clothing of the peasants and farmhands of the time. A certain type of Zanni, Brighella, wore accents of green to show her delicate and sneaky nature.
What is Arlecchino’s personality?
A cunning, low-status character, Arlecchino tries to deceive his customers, but usually fails. Arlecchino is very fast, acrobatic and flexible. He’s not as smart as Brighella, but he’s not as stupid as the Zannis.
How does Zanni show its animal characteristics?
Feet should be pointed, shoulders down and elbows forward. Zanni’s knees come off the ground and to the side. Zannis should peck his head like a chicken, but Zannis should be careful not to shake his head up and down. A two-beat rhythm with even beats is used.
Who serves Zanni?
The Servant (Zanni) The masks in the photos below are contemporary interpretations of Zanni masks, as there are few drawings of the very first masks worn by troops in the 16th century. With no social labels and a very strong work ethic, Zanni serves the Masters, The Old Men, The Lovers and Capitano.
What did the harlequins do?
Harlequin, Italian Arlecchino, French Harlequin, one of the main characters of the Italian Commedia dellarte, often a light-hearted, witty valet and a spirited valet. … By the early 17th century, Harlequin had become a loyal, patient, gullible, and amorous valet.
What is the distinguishing feature of the Zanni mask?
The mask is characterized by a long eagle and curved nose. The name Zanni derives its origin from Gianni: this name is very common in the Venetian countryside of Lombardy, where most of the servants of Venetian nobles and wealthy merchants came from.