It’s too bad mime is so cheesy

Etienne Decroux (or so the file says) as Harlequin, a stock character in the Comedia dell’arte.

etienne-decroux.jpg

I love painted descriptions of the character of Harlequin though. Just something about them.

hlqnmask1918p1.jpg

commedia-harlequin-painting-lapinagile19051.jpg

There’s a line of research I’ve been meaning to follow related to the figure, in Italian, Arlecchino. One source I read said that Harlequin is a hold-over depiction of the god Mercury. Another said that he was essential a devil from the medieval religious Mystery Plays, who escaped and managed to have sort of a solo-career or at least a successful spin-off series. Curious to research other origins of Harlequin and related mythological and spiritual figures across cultures. If anyone has any links or scholarly info on this subject they’d like to share, please email me!


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2 Comments

  1. Posted October 11, 2009 at 11:33 am | Permalink

    Another connection I’m looking to develop: in traditional ways of playing commedia characters, each one has styles or systems of movement typical to that character. I’ve seen mention of dances dedicated to the Orishas, where depending on which one you’re dancing for, or which one possesses you, you’re going to display different characteristic movements and behavior. Just dropping that in here as a place-holder…

  2. Julia
    Posted October 11, 2009 at 7:47 pm | Permalink

    Place hold this…Freddie Mercury. Why can’t I trick anyone into doing a little dot following and seeing if they connect to anything interesting? I don’t know if they do or don’t but I’m too lazy to do it myself and I’m not into rock history anyway.

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