Commedia Dell’Arte
Stock Characters
Eliette Albrecht and Laurie Ellen Moore
*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.
*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. :)
Arlecchino - Harlequin
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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.
Arlecchino
examples: Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, Zeke from HSM
Capitano - Captain
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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
Capitano
examples: Puss in Boots (from Shrek), Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, Mrs. Darbus from
HSM
Il Dottore - The Doctor
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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.
Il Dottore
examples: Dr. Zoidberg from Futurama, Maurice from Beauty and the Beast, Taylor from
HSM
Pantalone - The Banker
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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
Pantalone
examples: Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh, Leonato from Much Ado About Nothing, Mrs.
Darbus from HSM
Pedrolino - The Runt
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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.
Pedrolino
examples: Zeke, Martha from HSM
Scarramuccia - Musician Soldier
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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
Scarramuccia
variant of the captain- Kelsi from HSM
Brighella - Servant
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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”
Brighella
ex: Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh, George Sr. from Arrested Development, Ryan from HSM
La Ruffiana - Flirtatious Woman
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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.
La Ruffiana
examples: Sharpay Evans from HSM, the evil queen from Disney’s Enchanted
Inamorato - Boy in Love
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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.
Inamorato
ex: Troy from HSM, Romeo from Romeo and Juliet, pretty much any cliché chick flick
hero
Inamorata - Girl in Love
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“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.
Inamorata
ex: Gabriella from HSM, Belle from Beauty and the Beast, any stereotypical chick flick girl
Sources (URLs only)
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http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Arlechinno.htm
http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Capitano.htm
http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Dottore.htm
http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Innamorati.htm
http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Isobella.htm
http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Pantalone.htm
http://shane-arts.com/Commedia-Pedrolino.htm
http://www.delpiano.com/carnival/html/scaramouche.html
http://filer.case.edu/org/commedia/masks/scaramuccia.html
http://theitalianwayof.blogspot.com/2012/02/scaramuccia.html
http://www.commedia-dell-arte.com/brighellamask.htm
http://filer.case.edu/org/commedia/masks/ruffiana.html
https://sites.google.com/site/italiancommedia/the-characters