Information AboutHarlequin |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT HARLEQUIN | |
| commedia dellarte characters | |
| jesters | |
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dancing with a harlequin.]] Harlequin ('''Arlecchino''' in Italian , '''Arlequin''' in French ) is the most popular of the '' Zanni '' or comic servant characters from the Italian '' Commedia Dell'Arte ''. Arlecchino traditionally wore an outfit of patches and rags which evolved into the Lozenge -shaped Motley seen today. His mask was black with a large red blemish on his forehead similar to a boil. The primary aspect of Arlecchino was his physical agility. While generally depicted as quite stupid and greedy (in a gastronomic sense), he performed acrobatics that were what an audience expected to see. He was very nimble and agile. The character would never simply perform an action when the addition of a cartwheel or backflip would spice up the movement. Within these restrictions the character was terribly elastic. Various troupes and actors would alter his behavior to suit style, personal preferences, or even the particular Scenario being performed. One of most famous actors was Visentini ( 17th Century ). 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 Arlecchino often had a love interest in the person of Columbina , and his lust for her was only superseded by his desire for food or fear of his master. The origins of the name are uncertain: some say it comes from Dante 's '' Commedia '' (Inferno, XXI, 118) where one of the devils is called Alichino. Others say it could come from Harlenkoenig , a Scandinavia n hero. In another hypothesis it comes from Harlay , an English gentleman of the court of Henri III , who had protected an Italian actor. In Goldoni and in Gozzi, Arlecchino is sometimes called ''Truffaldino''; other names: Traccagnino, Bagattino, Tabarrino, Tortellino, Naccherino, Gradelino, Mezzettino, Polpettino, Nespolino, Bertoldino, Fagiuolino, Trappolino, Zaccagnino, Trivellino, Passerino, Bagolino, Temellino, Fagottino, Pedrolino, Fritellino, Tabacchino. ''Arlecchino'' is also the name of an Opera by Ferruccio Busoni ; see Arlecchino (opera) . The famous West London rugby union club Harlequins F.C. and its rugby league counterpart Harlequins Rugby League are named after the comic servants, and their emblem features a jester. |
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