Unmask the Vecchio: Commedia dell'Arte's Masterminds
The Ageless Appeal of Commedia dell'Arte's "Old Men" The vecchio (Italian for "old man") in Commedia dell'Arte: is he just a grumpy old geezer, a stock character destined for predictable pratfalls? Think again! These weren't simply sidekicks; they were the comedic heart and soul of many a performance, driving the plot with their schemes and foibles. Characters like Pantalone, the miserly merchant; Il Dottore, the pompous scholar; and Il Capitano, the boastful but cowardly soldier, weren't just funny; they were sharp social commentary cleverly disguised as slapstick....