Pantaloon & The Doctor

by David Claudon

PANTALOON, center, is a comic old merchant from Venice. He is always old, sometimes a rich miser, sometimes a poor man, sometimes a bachelor, sometimes a father of a family. If he is rich, he is a slave to his money. If he is married, his wife is usually young, often deceiving him. He loves to give advice. Often he is the recipient of blows from his servant. He is always duped by someone.
Pantaloon's costume consists of long red hose, a lose black cape, Turkish slippers, and a red woolen hat. His mask is brown with a prominent hooked nose, and occasionally, with round glasses. He has a gray mustache and a long white beard.
THE DOCTOR is a member of every academy, although his pronouncements are usually in tortured Latin or Greek. His children and servants make fun of him. He is a good friend of Pantaloon. Like his friend, he is old, an "eternal gas-bag" and miserly.
His costume reflects the time period and change as fashion changes. Here he wears a black felt hat, jacket, short trousers, and wide soft ruff about his neck. His black or flesh-colored mask covers his nose and forehead. His cheeks are smeared with red.

History
Harlequin & Mezzetino
Pantaloon & The Doctor
The Lover & The Captain
The Inamorata
Commedia dell'Arte Links

This page created by C. David Claudon. Last update October 15, 2003 .