Harlequin and the Commedia Dell' Arte

Harlequin is a trickster in a black mask and colorful costume who relies on wit rather than the slapstick of fellow clowns like Scaramouche. He is the protagonist of the Harlequin plays popular in 17th century England where he outwits the elderly buffoon Pantalone to win the love of his daughter Columbine.
Who can tell me more about the Harlequin plays? What are their origins and were there any notable movie adaptations (other than the 1952 Scaramouche film)?

So Harlequin was derived from Horus? I had no idea the Commedia Dell' Arte was that old

Who is Scaramouche? And why does he hide his face behind a mask?
Let me tell you

Edited by Nick1986 - 31-Mar-2011 at 15:38

The Clown (made famous by Joseph Grimaldi) is the villain of the piece. He wears white makeup and plays cruel practical jokes on the rest of the cast. His anarchic behavior subverts the recognised hierarchy and may draw upon ancient festivals like the Lord of Misrule or even the Roman Saturnalia

From what i remember, the Joker was based on the Man Who Laughs, an antihero who received a Glasgow smile as a child. In the words of the villain, this was so he could laugh at his fool of a father who had fled into exile for opposing James II

Perhaps Harlequin's costume is a fanciful representation of the heavily-patched clothing worn by gypsies. It would also explain his black mask: being of Indian descent a lot of Gypsies still have dark skin in modern times

I think it's highly likely the original Harlequin was a gypsy. If the song "Black Jack Davy" is anything to go by, many a young bride abandoned her wealthy family for a life on the road with the dark, exotic stranger