Commedia dell'arteCommedia dell'arte was an early form of professional theatre, originating from Italian theatre, that was popular throughout Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries. It was formerly called Italian comedy in English and is also known as commedia alla maschera, commedia improvviso, and commedia dell'arte all'improvviso.
Flaminio ScalaFlaminio Scala (27 September 1552 – 9 December 1624), commonly known by his stage name Flavio, was an Italian stage actor of commedia dell'arte, scenario writer, playwright, director, producer, manager, agent, and editor.
HarlequinHarlequin (, Italian: Arlecchino, Italian:; Lombard: Arlechin, Lombard:) is the best-known of the comic servant characters (Zanni) from the Italian commedia dell'arte, associated with the city of Bergamo. The role is traditionally believed to have been introduced by the Italian actor-manager Zan Ganassa in the late 16th century.
Comédie-ItalienneComédie-Italienne (French pronunciation: [kɔmedi italjɛn]) or Théâtre-Italien (pronounced [teɑtʁ italjɛ̃]) are French names which have been used to refer to Italian-language theatre and opera when performed in France. The earliest recorded visits by Italian players were commedia dell'arte companies employed by the French court under the Italian-born queens Catherine de' Medici and Marie de' Medici.
Stock characterA stock character, also known as a character archetype, is a type of character in a narrative (e.g. a novel, play, television show, or film) whom audiences recognize across many narratives or as part of a storytelling tradition or convention. There is a wide range of stock characters, covering people of various ages, social classes and demeanors.
ScenarioIn the performing arts, a scenario (, US also ; Italian:; from Italian, "that which is pinned to the scenery") is a synoptical collage of an event or series of actions and events. In the commedia dell'arte, it was an outline of entrances, exits, and action describing the plot of a play, and was literally pinned to the back of the scenery. It is also known as canovaccio or "that which is pinned to the canvas" of which the scenery was constructed.
EnemaFluid injection into the large intestineRectal bulb syringe to administer smaller enemasAn enema, also known as a clyster, is the rectal administration of a fluid by injection into the lower bowel via the anus. The word enema can also refer to the liquid injected, as well as to a device for administering such an injection.
Louis XIVHouseBourbonFatherLouis XIIIMotherAnne of AustriaReligionCatholicismSignatureLouis XIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 5 September 1638 – 1 September 1715) was King of France from 14 May 1643 until his death in 1715. He is a symbol of the Age of Absolutism in Europe for styling himself as "The Sun King" (Le Roi Soleil) and "Louis the Great", which portrayed him as supreme leader.
Elizabethan eraEpoch in English history (1558–1603)MonarchElizabeth ILeadersElizabeth IWilliam Cecil, 1st Baron BurghleyThomas Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of SussexFrancis WalsinghamRobert Dudley, 1st Earl of LeicesterFrancis Knollys the ElderSee others at List of ministers to Queen Elizabeth I.Jacobean eraKing James I by Mijtens (1621)MonarchJames VI and I
Italian languageRomance languageItalian (italiano, pronounced, or lingua italiana, pronounced) is a Romance language of the Indo-European language family. It is a standardised form of literary Florentine Tuscan and, together with Sardinian, is the least differentiated language from Latin. Current estimates indicate that between 68 and 85 million people speak Italian, including approximately 64 million native speakers as of 2024.
ZanniZanni (Italian: [ˈdzanni]), Zani or Zane is a character type of the early modern Italian comedy form commedia dell'arte, who is best known as an astute servant and a trickster. The Zanni comes from the countryside and is known to be a "dispossessed immigrant worker". Through time, the Zanni grew to be a popular figure who was first seen in commedia as early as the 14th century. The English word zany derives from this type of character.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.