Stock Characters: A Summary

Low status servant and usually the sidekick.

Zanni 1 This mask is inspired by birds of prey (vultures, crows, owls etc).
He is motivated by food and is always hungry.
His natural element is earth as he is a peasant with a strong connection to
the land.

Low status servant and court jester type.

This mask is inspired by a cat and a monkey and has a human nose.
Arlecchino He is lazy and hyperactive, ignorant but sly and manipulative.
He is motivated by food and is always hungry.
Colombina can be his love interest.

Low status servant and usually a yes-man.

Brighella The name comes from brigante (meaning brigand, thug or outlaw).
This mask and character is inspired by a dog and a chicken.
He is two-faced (contro maschera). He is loyal and obliging to the master
and aggressive and mean to others.

Originates from Naples.

Pulcinella The name comes from pulcino meaning baby chick.
The mask is inspired by a chicken and a rooster.
He is untrustworthy and a thief but can be charming and persuasive.

Female Zanni and an unmasked character.

Colombina She is a servant girl, but she is strong, clever and gets her own way!
Her stance is strong and assertive with hand firmly placed on hips.

Il Dottore
High status character.
One of the old people (I vecchi).
He wears a half mask with a fat nose.
A parody of a University academic, originally from, Bologna.
A pompous know-all who doesnt really know anything!
Sometimes the father of one of The Lovers.
Answers questions like a politician.
Pantalone
High status character.
One of the old people (I vecchi).
The mask is inspired by birds (vulture, turkey and crow).
A parody of a rich Venetian merchant.
Pantalone derives from the Venetian pianta-leone.
A cranky, rich but frugal old man.
Sometimes the father of one of The Lovers

High status unmasked characters.

The Lovers Often the children of the old people (I vecchi).
Their natural element is air and when in love have their head in the
clouds.
Their emotions are extreme, blissfully happy or completely depressed.
When moving around they usually lead from the heart.

Il Capitano
High status character.
Originates from Spain and is a parody of a cowardly soldier.
He is boastful and a liar.
His natural element is fire, as he can be dangerous, wild and
unpredictable.
The mask looks mean and can often be red (to reflect fire).
Stock Characters: Descriptions

The Servants (I Zanni o Lo Zanni)

Zanni 1

This character is the lowest status of all the stock characters and the
servants. This Zanni is the sidekick archetype. The name Zanni derives from
the name Gianni or Giovanni, which literally translated from the Italian means,
John. This was a common name for the poor peasants from the country towns
in Northern Italy. These people would migrate to Venice in search of work,
hoping to find a master (un padrone) that would employ them. The aristocrats
of Venice dubbed migrants from these regions, Zanni, the name that results
when the Venetian dialect or accent is added to Gianni. Zanni became a
derogatory term that referred to all servants regardless of whether their name
was Gianni or not! The mask for this character, similar to Pantalone and La
Strega, in that it is inspired by birds of prey: hawks, vultures, crows and owls.
This is fitting because the Zanni is like a vulture when it comes to eating. His
primary motivation is food.

Zanni 2

The following characters are also Zanni or servants. Even though their
ancestors, like the Zanni 1, came from peasant origins, these Zanni have
evolved a little from the scavenger type that is, Zanni 1:

Arlecchino

Brighella

Pulcinella

Colombina
Arlecchino

Arlecchino is a combination of two animals: monkey (scimmia) and cat (gatto).

His mask reflects the features of these animals and it heavily influences the
characters physical movement, behaviour and psychology. Like many of the
Commedia characters, Arlecchino is a creature of extremes. He can be lazy
and lethargic, like a cat, and playful and energetic like a monkey. He isnt
educated but this doesnt mean that he is stupid. In fact, Arlecchino is street
smart, he can be sly and manipulative especially when he needs to get out of
trouble or when the object of his desire is food! His costume is distinct and is
easily recognisable by its multi-coloured diamond pattern. In some scenarios
(canovacci), Arlecchino can be Colombinas love interest.

Brighella

The name Brighella comes from the Italian word brigante meaning, brigand, bandit,
thug or outlaw. His mask is sometimes olive green (or black) and is inspired by a dog
(un cane). Brighella is what the Italians would call contro maschera, which means
that he is two faced. For example, he will easily be charming and obliging to his
masters, however, when the master is not around he has the potential to become
vicious, violent and controlling with the other Zanni. Brighella is also highly-strung
and anxious and his physical movements reflect this. He moves around nervously, as
the knees come up to meet the elbows, a bit like a headless chicken flapping its
wings! This anxiety is also probably the cause of an embarrassing stutter which
Brighella has difficulty controlling. His costume consists of a white wide legged pant
and a chefs jacket and hat. He may use a tea towel or batocio (slapstick) as a prop.
Pulcinella

This Zanni originates from Naples. The name Pulcinella is derived from the
word pulcino meaning chick and his mask reflects this with its large hooked
nose. The mask, along with the characters hunchback and high pitched,
chicken like voice, makes him look a bit like a rooster. Like the other
characters Pulcinella is insatiably hungry and will do anything for food and
money. His costume is white, a free flowing shirt over a pair of wide legged
pants and a cap in the form of a truncated cone as depicted in Giovanni
Tiepolos painting, The Swing of Pulcinella.

Colombina

This female Zanni does not wear a mask but her costume, headscarf and
apron make her low servant status clear. Despite this she often disregards the
boundaries between master and servant by speaking her mind! Colombina, in
some scenarios can be Arlecchinos love interest. She, like Arlecchino, can be
sly, manipulative and street smart. Colombina uses her feminine attributes to
get what she wants, for example, swinging her hips and showing a bit of
cleavage, particularly to Pantalone! Her stance is strong and assertive with
hands firmly placed on hips.
2. The Old People (I Vecchi):

Pantalone

A wealthy but frugal and licentious old man! Also known as Il Magnifico. The name
Pantalone, derives from the Italian pianta-leone. The lion or Il leone is the symbol of
Venice and piantare means to make your mark. Pianta-leone evolved into what we
now know as Pantalone. Pianta-leone was the term given to Venetian merchants
who set up shops and businesses in foreign lands. Pantalone also imported and
exported goods from around Europe and Asia and his costume, in particular his red
Turkish slippers and hat, represent this. Pantalone also made his fortune by buying
property and making people pay taxes and rent. Pantalones mask is inspired by
birds (crows, vultures and turkeys). Psychologically, the character is like a bird of
prey (or a vulture) when it comes to money (and sometimes women)! He can also
walks like a stumpy crow, shuffling about awkwardly.

Il Dottore

Il Dottore is a parody of a University academic who is originally from Bologna (the city
to house the first University in Europe). A pompous know-all who is not necessarily
intelligent. He has the gift of the gab and is his aim is to intimidate and patronise
other characters with his big words and apparent knowledge. Il Dottore loves quoting
things in Latin (and other languages), making up facts and responding to questions in
a ridiculous manner that ultimately make no sense, similar to the responses a
politician may give to a question! Physically, he has an A-line body shape, and
carries weight in his stomach. He is generally lazy and doesnt move much with the
exception of his mouth and that doesnt stop! The mask he wears is a black half
mask that covers the forehead (or the brain) and the nose is usually plump and large.
His costume is a traditional black academic gown with a white collar and a wide
brimmed medical hat (similar to Il Dottore della Peste).
3. Il Capitano

Il Capitano is a parody of a Spanish militant or soldier. This character was devised by

the Italian Commedia in response to the Spanish invasion of Northern Italy in the
16th Century. The Italians didnt care much for the Spanish and demonstrated this
through this character. Il Capitano is narcissistic, vain, cowardly and often boasting
about his conquests (on the battlefield and with women). Some common Capitano
characters had the satirical names: Spaventa (fright); Fracasso (smash) and
Spezzaferro (break-sword). His mask is usually red or maroon with red tones. This is
symbolic of his natural element, which is fire. He is dangerous and unpredictable like
fire. Il Capitano isn't dangerous because he knows how to use his sword, he is
dangerous because he doesn't know how to use his sword! The original costume is a
yellow and red (Spanish colours) striped jacket with puffy floral sleeves and a hat
adorned with lots of plumage!

4. The Lovers

The Lovers are aristocratic, high status characters that do not wear masks. They can
have a heavy white powder on their faces and because of this they are sometimes
referred to as linfarinato (farina meaning flour). They are usually spoilt brats who are
only concerned about their love life! Their natural element is air and when in love,
metaphorically speaking, they have their head in the clouds. Their emotions are
extreme and they can switch from being blissfully happy to completely depressed.
They can make hasty dangerous decisions if their love is not requited! Physically,
when moving they lead from the heart and float around. The Lovers are often the
children of the old people (i vecchi). Their dilemma often stems from their fathers not
allowing them to marry or insisting that they marry people who have been chosen for
them and whom they do not love! Some common names for the lovers are: Isabella,
Beatrice, Silvia or Silvio, Federico or Federica.
Other Characters:

La Strega

La Strega is otherwise known as the Witch. She is not a stock character but un
personaggio di passagio, which means that she would pass through the
Commedia, but not always be central to the action. La Strega would create spells to
help characters in desperate situations. She could be cheeky, but was generally a
good Witch. For example, La Strega, may help Pantalone by making a potion to
render him more youthful. The Lovers may request love potions to cure unrequited
love. La Strega also has the power to bring people back to life. The mask is inspired
by birds, more specifically, owls. There is also a male version of this character that is
called Lo Strego.