Simple Character List

1. Arlecchino (Harlequin): Arlecchino is known for his colorful patchwork costume and is often portrayed as a mischievous servant. He’s known for his agility and cunning.
2. Pulcinella (Punchinello): Pulcinella is characterized by his hunchbacked appearance and a long nose. He is often depicted as a troublemaker and a glutton.
3. Brighella: Brighella is typically a clever and witty servant. He wears a green costume and often serves as a mediator or go-between in the plots.
4. Pantalone: Pantalone is an elderly Venetian merchant. He’s known for his greed, vanity, and pursuit of young women. He usually wears red and black and has a distinctive beak-like nose.
5. Dottore (Doctor): Dottore is a pompous and often senile character, known for his elaborate Latin phrases and academic pretensions. He typically wears a black robe.
6. Columbina: Columbina is a clever and witty maidservant, often caught in romantic entanglements with other characters. She typically wears a simple costume.
7. Capitano: Capitano is a boastful and cowardly soldier who often tells exaggerated tales of his bravery. He wears a military uniform.
8. Isabella: Isabella is a beautiful and intelligent female character often pursued by male characters. She can be both virtuous and clever.
9. Flavio and Isabella’s Father: These characters often act as authority figures or fathers trying to arrange marriages.
10. Innamorati (Lovers): The Innamorati are young lovers typically at the center of romantic plots. They are often naive and passionate.
11. Zanni: Zanni is a general term for servant characters and includes figures like Arlecchino, Brighella, and Pulcinella.
12. La Ruffiana: La Ruffiana is often portrayed as a lewd and cunning older woman.

These are just some of the core Commedia dell’Arte characters, and many variations and adaptations exist. Commedia dell’Arte performances often involve improvisation and physical comedy, with actors drawing on these character archetypes to create humorous and entertaining scenarios.