Harlequin

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(Redirected from Arlecchino)

For other uses, see Harlequin (disambiguation).

Image:Harlekin Columbine Tivoli Denmark.jpg

Harlequin (Arlecchino in Italian, Arlequin in French, Harlekin in German, Arlequim in Portuguese) is the most popular of the zanni or comic servant characters from the Italian Commedia dell'Arte.

1 Origin
2 Dramatic Function
3 Other uses
4 See also
5 References

[edit] Origin

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, 118; 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.<ref name=Grantham>Grantham, B., Playing Commedia, A Training Guide to Commedia Techniques, Nick Hern Books, London, 2000</ref>

Image:SAND Maurice Masques et bouffons 01.jpg

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).<ref name=Grantham/>

A third potential origin for the Harlequin is that he simply he evolved from a Zanni archetype who, although a slow thinker, was acrobatic and nimble.<ref name=Rudlin>Rudlin, J., Commedia dell’Arte, An actor’s handbook, Routledge, London, 1994</ref> 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 garmet's degredation.

The primary aspect of Arlecchino was his physical agility.<ref name=Grantham/><ref name=Rudlin/> 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.<ref name=Rudlin/>

[edit] 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 <ref name=Rudlin/> - 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.

[edit] Other uses

Arlecchino is also the name of an opera by Ferruccio Busoni; see Arlecchino (opera).

In the opera Pagliacci of Ruggiero Leoncavallo, Arlecchino is the stage name of the character Beppe who engages in a love affair with the wife of the Head troupe clown, Pagliaccio-the wife being Nedda and her onstage persona being Colombina.

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.

The name Harlequin is also given to dogs of the Great Dane breed, that have a coat of "torn" patches of black on white. Apparently, this is the only breed of dog to exhibit this coat pattern.

"Harley Quinn" or harlequin is also a sidekick to The Joker in Batman.

Harlequin is a shade of green that was named after the green costumes worn by some harlequins.