Harlequinade
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See also Commedia dell'arte
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[edit] History of the Harlequinade
The harlequinade is a type of theatrical performance piece, usually a slapstick adaptation of the Commedia dell'arte, performed by actors which dates back to England in the mid 18th century. The story revolves around the lives of its four main characters: perrot, Columbine, Clown and Pantaloon.
[edit] The characters
[edit] Harlequin
The harlequin is the comic of the show. He is a servant and the love interest of Columbine. His everlasting high-spirits and cleverness work to save him from several difficult situations his amoral behaviour gets him into during the course of the play. In some Italian forms of the harlequinade, the Harlequin is able to perform magic feats. He never holds a grudge or seeks revenge.
Harlequin is generally considered to be the forerunner to 'whiteface' clowns, or those that rely on slyness or trickery to amuse the audience, rather than buffonery or physical slapstick.
Costume:
- A black mask, which serves two purposes: alift to reveal himself, donned to hide himself from the audience's view. It has tiny eyeholes and quizzically arched eyebrows
- Traditional diamond checkered pants (usually alternating blue, green, and red diamonds)
- Peasant's shirt
- Batte, or slapstick
[edit] Columbine
Columbine is a lovely woman, who has caught the eye of the harlequin. In both French and Italian theater, she is often portrayed as a servant, serving girl, or lady's maid under the patronage of Pantaloon (Pantalone), though she is at times depicted instead as his daughter.
Her role usually centers around her romantic interest in Harlequin, and her costume often includes the cap and apron of a serving girl, though (unlike the other players) not a mask.
[edit] Clown
A slapstick character who achieved immense popularity outside the harlequinade, the Clown existed in the commedia dell'arte in a form immediately recognizable to those who are familiar with the standard circus clown character of today.
The Clown character, who should not be confused with Harlequin despite the modern adaptation of Harlequin as a whiteface clown, serves as a foil for Harlequin's slyness and adroit nature. The Clown is a buffoon or fool who resembles less a jester than a comical naif. He performs in the Harlequinade in pantomime without speaking.
[edit] Pantaloon
Traditionally Pantaloon (or Pantalone) is a devious, greedy merchant of Venice character typical of the commedia dell'arte. He is taken in readily by the various tricks and schemes of Harlequin to the great amusement of the audience, to whom the Harlequin's tricks are readily visible.
His costume usually includes a tight-fighting vest and breech ensemble in red, slippers, a skullcap, a comically oversized hooked nose, and grubby grey goatee.
In the English harlequinade, popular in 18th-century London, Pantaloon emerged as a greedy and overly-amorous character in the commedia dell-farte.
[edit] Other theatrical credits
Harlequinade is a play by Terence Rattigan. It was first performed on September 8, 1948 at the Phoenix Theatre, London, along with The Browning Version.
Harlequin's Millions or Harlequinade is a ballet originally created by the choreographer Marius Petipa and the composer Riccardo Drigo for the Imperial Ballet of St. Petersburg, Russia. It was first performed on February 10, 1900 at the Hermitage Theatre, then on February 13, 1900 at the Mariinsky Theatre, with Mathilde Kschessinska as Columbine, Georgi Kiaksht as Harlequin, Olga Preobrajenska as Pierrette, and Sergei Lukianov as Pierrot. George Balanchine staged an important revival of the work in honor of the ballet's 65th anniversary for the New York City Ballet, premiering February 4, 1965 with the ballet being retitled as Harlequinade. The leading dancers were Patricia Mcbride as Columbine, Edward Vilella as Harlequin, Suki Schorer as Pierrette, and Deni Lamont as Pierrot.
[edit] Other media
The Harlequinade is a recurring trio of characters in The Invisibles comic book series.
