Is Zanni a stock character?
zanni, plural zanni or zannis, stock servant character in the Italian improvisational theatre known as the commedia dell’arte. Zanni were valet buffoons, clowns, and knavish jacks-of-all-trades. All possessed common sense, intelligence, pride, and a love of practical jokes and intrigue.
Which type of stock characters in commedia dell’arte did not wear masks?
Innamorati usually wore no mask, soubrettes/servettas usually wore no mask, and some zanni like Mezzetin, Scaramouch and Pedrolino have a longer documented tradition for going unmasked than they do for covering their faces.
What is the meaning of Zanni?
Definition of Zanni 1 : a madcap clown in masked comedy traditionally from Bergamo, Italy usually playing the part of a comic servant and indulging in acrobatic antics and tricks — compare pierrot. 2 : a clown resembling Harlequin.
What are the physical traits of Zanni?
The stance of Zanni has a “lowered centre of gravity” either from the earth or from carrying heavy bags and chairs. Zanni’s back is arched when he stands up and his knees are bent and apart with splayed feet. The support knee is bent and the other leg is extended with his toe pointed.
How does zanni speak?
The support knee is bent and the other leg is extended with his toe pointed. He switches his feet a lot while speaking or listening within the same position, and without his head moving up and down. Zanni’s elbows are usually bent and arms half lifted.
Which commedia dell’arte characters wear masks?
There are four or five classes that the masks can be grouped into: the old men such as Pantalone and il Dottore; the young and adventurous man, il Capitano; the servant sometimes named Zanni; and another old man though more crooked and crippled Pulcinella.
What is a Zanni in commedia dell’arte?
The female zanni, her status is personal maid to the prima donna innamorata, and is initially strong and attractive, like a artiste, later petite and pretty. The only lucid and rational person in commedia dell’arte. (Rudlin, 130)
Who is Zanni?
That is because the Zanni character is seminal to many other characters in the Commedia dell’Arte theater, including Arlechino, Brighella, and Pulcinella . The name ‘Zanni’ is a diminutive of Venetian name ‘Giovanni’ (John) and we get our English word ‘zany’ from this, which gives you an idea of the nature of this character!
What are stock characters in Commedia dell’arte?
Commedia dell’Arte consists performers called stock characters. According to dictionary.com, stock characters are characters that are quickly recognized and accepted by the reader or viewer and requiring no development by the writer. In Commedia dell’Arte, there are 13 stock characters, 10 are men, and 3 are woman.
What is a zanni mask?
In the early days of Commedia dell’Arte, the Zanni mask used in the theatre was a full face mask with a long nose. It developed from here into a half mask covering the upper half of the face only with an extended, long nose. The longer the nose on the mask, then the more stupid was the character.