Have you heard of the classic theatre form called Commedia dell’arte . It began back in the 16th century, and it has two key characteristics: the use of improvisation in pieces (its full name is commedia dell’arte all’improvviso, comedy through the art of improvisation), and the incorporation of masked characters playing certain roles. The use of masks in the Commedia dates back to the 1570s and the city of Venice: no wonder, then, that the Venetian Carnival so embraces the wearing of masks.

The Commedia was wildly popular, to the point that patrons would sponsor troupes and those acting in troupes gained celebrity status. Certain stock characters evolved, which meant audiences coming to see the Commedia were familiar enough with the format but enjoyed being surprised by the story created there and then by the actors. Many kinds of stories were told through the Commedia medium, but the most common plot was young lovers falling in love and being thwarted by the vecchi (the older ones, the masters), leading to comical and crazy servants intervening to ‘help’ and, ultimately, a happy ending. With the masks occluding expressions, speech and physical movement were important and exaggerated. Many performances incorporated song and dance, and well-known jokes and slapstick physical humour.

Characters fall into three camps: servants or clowns (zanni), masters/villains (vecchi) and lovers (innamorati). Each character had its own defining characteristics: a way of speaking, gestures, plots, attire and, of course, the mask. The following specific roles have become well known:

• Pantalone, a wealthy but miserly Venetian merchant. Dresses in red with a large, red-nosed mask.
• Il Dottore, Pantalone’s neighbour from Bologna. Either close friend or bitter enemy of Pantalone. Pompous and feigns being educated. Wears a black mask.
• Il Capitano, an arrogant Spanish captain. Full of faux bravado. Wears lots of colour.
• Inamorati, the young lovers. The only characters who don’t wear masks.
• Arlecchino, a mischievous servant, also known as Harlequin. Wears a multicoloured outfit and a black mask.
• Columbina, a clever and beguiling servant who’s often paired with Arlecchino.
• Brighella, a dastardly merchant. His mask is green.
• Pulcinella, a wife-beating servant (the model for the later Punch of Punch and Judy in England). His mask is black with a long nose.

For more details on the Commedia characters, see http://sites.google.com/site/italiancommedia/the-characters and http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/comm/hd_comm.htm. In addition, this video gives an idea of the costumes and mannerisms of some of the main characters:

Many of the Commedia masks feature in the Venice Carnival. For details and images of the masks, visit http://www.magicofvenezia.com/servlet/the-template/maskstory/Page.