Harlequin

[edit] Americola's celebrity biographies are provided by AmericolaWiki, a celebrity wiki. You can help contribute to Americola and edit this article.

Harlequin (Arlecchino in Italian) is the most popular of the zanni or comic servant characters from the Italian Commedia dell'Arte.

Although illustrations of Arlecchino have only been dated as far back as 1572, the character had existed before then. The origins of the name are uncertain: some say it comes from Dante's Inferno, XXI, XXII and XXIII; one of the devils is called Alichino. Others say it could come from Harlenkoenig, a Scandinavian hero.^{[citation needed]} Another hypothesis states that the name is derived from Harlay, an English gentleman of the court of Henri III, who had protected an Italian actor.^{[citation needed]} Still another unproveable theory states that it came from Old High German Karalchin (little man), similar to the name Mannekin or Manneken.^{[citation needed]}

Popular theories suggest that he may have emerged from France, Africa, or Italy.^[1]

The notion that the Harlequin motif grew out of France is evidenced by Hellequin, a stock character in French passion plays. Hellequin, a black-faced emissary of the devil, is said to have roamed the countryside with a group of demons chasing the damned souls of evil people to Hell. The physical appearance of Hellequin offers an explanation for the traditional colours of Harlequin's mask (red and black).^[1]

A third potential origin for the Harlequin is that he simply evolved from a Zanni archetype who, although a slow thinker, was acrobatic and nimble.^[2] Interpreted thus, Harlequin's distinctive motley costume may be a stylized variant of Zanni's plain white garb, designed to reflect the ad-hoc patching necessary to prevent the garment's degradation.

The primary aspect of Arlecchino was his physical agility.^[1][2] While generally depicted as stupid and gluttonous, he was very nimble and agile, and performed the sort of acrobatics the audience expected to see. The character would never perform a simple action when the addition of a cartwheel or backflip would spice up the movement.

Within these restrictions the character was tremendously elastic. Various troupes and actors would alter his behavior to suit style, personal preferences, or even the particular scenario being performed. One of the most famous actors was Visentini (17th century) and Tristano Martinelli.^[2]

Dramatic Function

He is typically cast as the servant of an innamorato or vecchio much to the detriment of his master's plans. Arlecchino often had a love interest in the person of Columbina, and his lust for her was only superseded by his desire for food or fear of his master.

Despite Arlecchino's agility of body, his mind does not entertain the same capacities. Arlecchino is a slow thinker, with some versions portraying him as able to entertain only one thought at a time ^[2] - and often that he is capable of confusing. This leads to a range of situations, including Lazzi where Arlecchino is tricked into thinking he himself is dead, when other more wily characters of the Commedia dell'Arte point out a range of unlikely symptoms. Pierre Louis Duchartre says that Arlecchino desperately tries to hide his lack of brains, to the point of seeming malicious in so doing; as in one scenario where Arlecchino is diguised as a doctor and prescribes ridiculous "remedies" that would certainly prove fatal if undergone.

In Goldoni and in Gozzi, Arlecchino is sometimes called Truffaldino; other names: Traccagnino, Bagattino, Tabarrino, Tortellino, Naccherino, Gradelino, Polpettino, Nespolino, Bertoldino, Fagiuolino, Trappolino, Zaccagnino, Trivellino, Passerino, Bagolino, Temellino, Fagottino, Fritellino, Tabacchino. While Il Capitano was trying to win the heart of a lady for himself, Arlccheino, likes to joke around and embarrass the captain and try to win the lady for himself.

See also

• Skomorokh
• Yurodivy
• buffoon
• village idiot
• Trickster
• Clown society
• Jokester
• Court Jester

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Grantham, B., Playing Commedia, A Training Guide to Commedia Techniques, Nick Hern Books, London, 2000
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Rudlin, J., Commedia dell’Arte, An actor’s handbook, Routledge, London, 1994

de:Harlekin

es:Arlequín fr:Arlequin it:Arlecchino ja:アルレッキーノ no:Harlekin pl:Arlekin pt:Arlequim fi:Harlekiini sv:Harlekin uk:Арлекін

Wikipedia information about Harlequin This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Harlequin". It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer). Help contribute to Americola and edit this article.