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Zanni (), Zani or Zane is a character type of
commedia dell'arte Commedia dell'arte was an early form of professional theatre, originating from Theatre of Italy, Italian theatre, that was popular throughout Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries. It was formerly called Italian comedy in English and is a ...
best known as an astute servant and a
trickster In mythology and the study of folklore and religion, a trickster is a character in a story (god, goddess, spirit, human or anthropomorphisation) who exhibits a great degree of intellect or secret knowledge and uses it to play tricks or otherw ...
. The Zanni comes from the countryside and is known to be a "dispossessed immigrant worker".Rudlin, John. ''Commedia dell'arte: An Actors Handbook''. London: Routledge, 1994. 67. Print."Immigrant" in Italy at the time of the city-states did not mean someone from outside of Italy but rather someone from outside the city, an itinerant 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 character. The longer the nose on the characters mask, the more foolish the character.


Origin of the name

The name "Zanni" (as well as "Zuan") is a variant of the name ''Gianni'' and was common in the Lombard-Venetian countryside which provided most of the servants to the wealthy nobles and merchants of
Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...
. In
Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...
it is specifically a name of someone whose identity is not of any importance. It is one of the oldest characters in commedia dell'arte, but over the course of time became subdivided into a number of similar characters with more specific traits. These included
Harlequin Harlequin (, , ; , ) 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 ...
(Arlecchino),
Pulcinella Pulcinella (; ) is a classical character that originated in commedia dell'arte of the 17th century and became a stock character in Neapolitan puppetry. Pulcinella's versatility in status and attitude has captivated audiences worldwide and kept ...
, Mezzettino and Truffaldino, as well as Beltrame and
Brighella Brighella (Bergamasque dialect: ''Brighèla'') is a comic, masked character from the Italian theatre style commedia dell'arte. His early costume consisted of loosely fitting, white smock and pants with green trim and was often equipped with a ...
. Harlequin, for example, was more representative of a
jester A jester, also known as joker, court jester, or fool, was a member of the household of a nobleman or a monarch kept to entertain guests at the royal court. Jesters were also travelling performers who entertained common folk at fairs and town ma ...
than an ordinary servant and was frequently depicted as very acrobatic. Zanni was shortened to Zan when used to provide further identification of an individual. For example,
Zan Ganassa Zan Ganassa (, ; – ) was the stage name of an early actor-manager of ''commedia dell'arte'', whose company was one of the first to tour outside Italy.Senelick 1995a, p. 409. Ganassa's real name was probably Alberto NaseliHartnoll 1983, "Ganassa, ...
was the stage name of Alberto Naseli, who was one of the first actors specializing in Zanni roles to perform outside of Italy. Overall, the Zanni in early commedia dell'arte is the name for the 'carter', which is the servant. The name Zanni became a "technical term to define all of the servants".


Variations

Some characters in ''commedia'' that are derived from Zanni are Harlequin, Brighella,
Scapino {{Use dmy dates, date=January 2024 Scapino or Scapin is a Zanni character from the commedia dell'arte. His name is related to the Italian language, Italian word ''scappare'' ('to escape') and his name translates to 'little escape artist', in ref ...
, Mescolino and Mezzettino, Scaramuccia (aka
Scaramouche Scaramouche () or Scaramouch (; Italian: Scaramuccia ; ) is a stock clown character of the 16th-century commedia dell'arte (comic theatrical arts of Italian literature). The role combined characteristics of the Zanni (servant) and il Capitan ...
), Pulcinella,
Pedrolino Pedrolino is a ''primo'' ('first') Zanni, or comic servant, of the commedia dell'arte; the name is a hypocorism of ''Pedro'' ('Peter'), via the suffix ''-lino''. The character made its first appearance in the last quarter of the 16th century, app ...
, Giangurgolo, Tartaglia, Trappolino, Trivelin, and
Burratino Burattino, also Burrattino or Burratino, is a minor ''commedia dell'arte'' character of the Zanni (or second Zanni) class. Name In Italian burattino means "puppet", although it is not clear whether the ''commedia dell'arte'' character was call ...
.


Characteristics

The earliest literary evidence portrays Zanni as a servant of
Pantalone Pantalone (), spelled Pantaloon in English, is one of the most important principal characters found in commedia dell'arte. With his exceptional greed and status at the top of the social order, Pantalone is "money" in the ''commedia'' world. His ...
. Of all of the ''commedia'' archetypes, Zanni's survival instinct is the strongest. Zanni is also always hungry, which leads to a vision of Utopia where "everything is comestible, reminiscent of the followers of
gluttony Gluttony (, derived from the Latin ''gluttire'' meaning "to gulp down or swallow") means over-indulgence and over-consumption of anything to the point of waste. In Christianity, it is considered a sin if the excessive desire for food leads to a ...
in carnival processions".A famous example is the Truffaldino in '' A Servant of Two Masters'' by Goldoni. A Zanni also has an animistic view of the world in that he senses a spirit in everything, so it could be eaten. Zanni is ignorant, loutish, and has no self-awareness. The simple act of thinking does not seem to be natural to Zanni. He is a very faithful individual who prefers to live in the present day. Zanni never looks for a place to sleep; it just seems to happen to him often in situations where it shouldn't, like a
drunkard Alcoholism is the continued drinking of alcohol despite it causing problems. Some definitions require evidence of dependence and withdrawal. Problematic use of alcohol has been mentioned in the earliest historical records. The World Hea ...
. Lastly, all of his reactions are completely emotional.Rudlin, John. ''Commedia dell'arte: An Actors Handbook''. London: Routledge, 1994. 71. Print. Zanni is born into an immigrant background and is known for performing both "duty and necessity" and also plays an active role in the "game" of breaking up and unifying relationships. Zanni is also known for his ability to scheme and manipulate. The role of Zanni is known as being a "stupid genius"; this contradiction prevents Zanni from approaching daily life in a rational manner. Zanni's stupidity prevents him from performing simple tasks, while his genius gives him the ability to make the impossible possible.


Two types of Zanni

The evolution of the character Zanni was of two distinct types, one of the silly servant and the other of the cunning servant. These two components developed over the course of the history of the
commedia dell'arte Commedia dell'arte was an early form of professional theatre, originating from Theatre of Italy, Italian theatre, that was popular throughout Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries. It was formerly called Italian comedy in English and is a ...
, and players began to specialize in the two types who were called "first Zanni" (cunning) and "second Zanni" (silly). Mezzetino and Brighella are examples of the first Zanni;
Harlequin Harlequin (, , ; , ) 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 ...
and
Pulcinella Pulcinella (; ) is a classical character that originated in commedia dell'arte of the 17th century and became a stock character in Neapolitan puppetry. Pulcinella's versatility in status and attitude has captivated audiences worldwide and kept ...
are examples of the second. A scenario must always have at least two Zanni. The first Zanni is known to be clever and witty, and is known as ''il furbo'' (). The first Zanni can trick and cheat anyone whom they come across. It is a must that they are cynically sharp. The first Zanni is also known to be the go-between. The job of the first Zanni is to advance the action and give it some movement, with a slightly cynical twist. In some traditions, first Zanni are said to be from
Val Brembana Val Brembana () is a valley in Lombardy, Northern Italy. It takes its name from the river flowing in it, the Brembo. Geography The Bergamo Alps form the valley's northern limits, notably the Tre Signori and Diavolo di Tenda Peaks, while at sou ...
, in the
province of Bergamo The province of Bergamo (; ) is a Provinces of Italy, province in the Lombardy region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Bergamo. The province has a population of 1,103,768 (2023), an area of , and contains 242 ''comune, comuni'' (municipali ...
; in others they are attributed to the upper city of
Bergamo Bergamo ( , ; ) is a city in the Alps, alpine Lombardy region of northern Italy, approximately northeast of Milan, and about from the alpine lakes Lake Como, Como and Lake Iseo, Iseo and 70 km (43 mi) from Lake Garda, Garda and Lake ...
. The second Zanni is known as ''lo stupido''. The second Zanni must be foolish, clumsy, and dull. The second Zanni is also unable to tell his right hand from his left. He is a dull-witted peasant who can be simple and also ridiculous. Second Zanni, in particular with Harlequin, does not so much advance plot as maintain a steady stream of comic relief throughout the
scenario In the performing arts, a scenario (, ; ; 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 actio ...
. Second Zanni are assumed to be from the lower city of Bergamo. Between the two of them they make up one person of "less than average intelligence". Before developing this dualistic person of the two types of clever and silly servant, Zanni was a character in its own right.


Actors

The performance of a ''commedia'' actor relies on the acting itself. A scenario should be playable in different ways and seem different each time the audience sees it. The actors who play Zanni must be clever and equally talented, because an actor's success relies primarily on their dialogue partner. If the partner does not reply to them at the right moment or interrupts them in the wrong place, the actor's "discourse falters and the liveliness of their wit is extinguished". He must be acrobatic, able to walk on his hands and on stilts, dance, skip and somersault. In this respect, the Zanni is one of the most physically demanding of all the Masks.


Costume and mask

The Zanni's costume usually consists of white baggy clothing. This clothing was traditionally made out of flour sacks.Rudlin, John. ''Commedia dell'arte: An Actors Handbook''. London: Routledge, 1994. 68. Print. This was similar to the dress of peasants and farmworkers of the time. A specific type of Zanni,
Brighella Brighella (Bergamasque dialect: ''Brighèla'') is a comic, masked character from the Italian theatre style commedia dell'arte. His early costume consisted of loosely fitting, white smock and pants with green trim and was often equipped with a ...
, wore accents of green to indicate his tricky and devious nature.
Harlequin Harlequin (, , ; , ) 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 ...
, however, was known for his irregular colored patches that eventually became the essence of the entire outfit. The Zanni are also known to sport a peaked hat and a wooden sword. The Zanni at first wore a full faced carnival mask, but because of the need for dialogue between
Pantalone Pantalone (), spelled Pantaloon in English, is one of the most important principal characters found in commedia dell'arte. With his exceptional greed and status at the top of the social order, Pantalone is "money" in the ''commedia'' world. His ...
and the Zanni, the bottom of the mask was hinged and eventually cut away altogether. The longer the nose of the Zanni, the stupider he is said to be.


Stance

The stance of Zanni has a "lowered centre of gravity" either from the earth or from carrying heavy bags and chairs. Zanni's back is arched when he stands up and his knees are bent and apart with splayed feet. The support knee is bent and the other leg is extended with his toe pointed. He switches his feet a lot while speaking or listening within the same position, and without his head moving up and down. Zanni's elbows are usually bent and arms half lifted. Zanni also has a variety of poses. These include crouching with the elbows on the knees and the chin in the hands, or sitting with the feet splayed bending at the hips with the elbows slightly elevated.


Six types of walks

In ''commedia'', Zanni has a variety of at least six different types of walks. These walks include The Little Zanni, The Big Zanni, Zanni Running, Zanni Jubilant, Vain Zanni, and Soldier Zanni. The Little Zanni walk is a development of a basic stance. The Zanni's feet are constantly changing but on each shift, The Zanni takes a tiny step forward. The feet are to be pointed, shoulders down, and elbows forward. The Zanni's knees come high off of the ground and to the side. The Zanni's head is to peck like a chicken, but the Zanni have to be sure not to bob their head up and down. A two-time rhythm is used with even beats. The Big Zanni walk includes sticking the chest forward and the backside up. The feet need to be in fourth extended with the knees bent. The Zanni has to lower his center of gravity. This walk can be used by a Zanni when he pretends to cross the stage without being seen or when he wants to get himself out of a difficult situation.Rudlin, John. Commedia dell'arte An Actors Handbook. London: Routledge, 1994. 70. Print. Zanni Running includes swift movements with legs kicking out in front of him with his toes pointed. His arms move opposite to his legs. Zanni Jubilant involves skipping on his toes with his center of gravity moving from side to side. This type of walk also involves the hands being placed on the belt. Vain Zanni's steps are a smaller version of the Big Zanni walk with the hands placed on the belt as seen in the Zanni Jubilant. When the Zanni's leg lifts, his chest is forward and his arms are in the position of a chicken. This type of walk is used when the Zanni has a "...new button or a feather on his cap". Soldier Zanni holds a stick in one hand and inclines it over his shoulder like he is holding a rifle. The Zanni marches with his shoulders moving up and down in a two-time rhythm but in three beats: "tramper-tramp, tramper-tramp, tramp, tramp, tramp....".


Speech

The Zanni is loud and his voice is coarse due to making a living outdoors trying to be heard in a market or busy street. Zanni is also known to be vocal with sounds including farting, burping, and snoring. The following sample dialogue shows how the Zanni uses his speech in ''commedia'': :Pantalone: Zanni, I want you to earn yourself a sovereign. :Zanni: A gold coin? :Pantalone: A gold castle. :Zanni: Ah, right (He lies down and falls asleep). :Pantalone: Zanni, wake up you animal and come here. :Zanni (rising): At your service, boss, as always. :Pantalone: Dear Zanni, take the sonnet. :Zanni: Give me the sovereign first. :Pantalone: I will give it to you. :Zanni: Where is it, then? :Pantalone: It's there. :Zanni: Show it to me. :Pantalone: There it is. ::''(Zanni tries to snatch the coin but Pantalone grabs it back at the last moment)'' :Zanni: Darn! :Pantalone: It's yours. :Zanni: How can it be mine since you’ve got it? :Pantalone: Trust me, my dear Zanni; take the sonnet and I will give it to you.


''Lazzi''

A '' lazzo'' is a joke or gag in mime or in words. The following ''lazzi'' examples are short comic routines by the character type Zanni. In "Lazzi of the Cat" the Zanni mimics the actions of a cat, demonstrating how the cat hunts for wild birds or how the cat cleans himself by scratching his ears with his feet and cleaning his body with his mouth. Sexual / Scatological Lazzi: in "Lazzi of Burying the Urine", the Zanni is told that burying his urine and the urine produced by his wife will give him a son. Zanni gets a urinal that produces both and before he spills it into the soil, he treats it as a special fluid. Stupidity/ Inappropriate Behavior: in "Lazzi of Counting Money", the Zanni divides Pantalone's money between Pantalone and himself in the following way: "One for Pantalone, two for me (gives one coin to Pantalone and two to himself); two for Pantalone, three for me (gives one coin to Pantalone and three to himself), etc."Gordon, Mel. ''Lazzi: The Comic Routines of the Commedia dell'arte''. First. New York: Performing Arts Journal Publication, 1983.43. Print.In the 1958 film, ''
tom thumb Tom Thumb is a character of English folklore. ''The History of Tom Thumb'' was published in 1621 and was the first known fairy tale printed in English. Tom is no bigger than his father's thumb, and his adventures include being swallowed by a cow, ...
'', two characters played by
Terry-Thomas Terry-Thomas (born Thomas Terry Hoar Stevens; 10 July 1911 – 8 January 1990) was an English character actor and comedian who became internationally known through his films during the 1950s and 1960s. He often portrayed disreputable members ...
and
Peter Sellers Peter Sellers (born Richard Henry Sellers; 8 September 1925 – 24 July 1980) was an English actor and comedian. He first came to prominence performing in the BBC Radio comedy series ''The Goon Show''. Sellers featured on a number of hit comi ...
perform this ''lazzo''.
Another popular ''lazzi'' was Zanni walking behind his master mounted on a mule and goading it to go faster by blowing air from a pair of bellows onto the animal's anus.


Props

A Zanni is known to take and briefly keep items that belong to someone else. Some items that the Zanni would keep would be bags, letters, valuables, or food.


Relationship with the audience

Zanni's relationship to the audience is that he is the most sympathetic character and treats the audience collectively so he is able to address the audience directly. Zanni contributes to the plot by being the "principal contributor to any confusion".


See also

*
Commedia dell'arte Commedia dell'arte was an early form of professional theatre, originating from Theatre of Italy, Italian theatre, that was popular throughout Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries. It was formerly called Italian comedy in English and is a ...


Notes


References


Further reading

* Hartnoll, Phyllis (1983). ''The Oxford Companion to the Theatre'' (fourth edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press. . {{Authority control Commedia dell'arte characters Masks in Europe Fictional characters introduced in the 14th century Fictional tricksters