STATUS

Pantalone, because he is rich and miserly, holds the highest social status in the commedia hierarchy. He always has servants working for him. Pantalone is deathly afraid of losing his money which, in turn, would cause him to lose his place in society.

COSTUME

Pantalone wears tight red trousers or stockings, a jacket, loose black cloak with long, billowy sleeves, a red skullcap, slippers and most important of all, a money purse on his belt.

MASK

Pantalone's long, hooked nose seems to meet his chin. The mask should convey a squinty, miserly appearance: mustache, small beady eyes, very pointed.

MOVEMENT

Pantalone, being an old man, hunches over the money purse on his belt protecting it from thieves or a daughter who might need money for a snack. He shuffles across the stage, the motion of his legs very limited. His knees are bent with the pelvis open spreading the legs. Pantalone can mimic the walks of all the other characters. Upon hearing bad news, he falls flat on his back, and curls up like a dying insect. But like a turtle, he cannot right himself without someones help.

GESTURES

Although Pantalone's body is old, his hands, feet and head are very expressive and quick. His hands are always moving, gesticulating each thought that comes to him. Due to trouble with his prostate gland, Pantalone has difficulty getting an erection. Despite this setback, he lusts after women and schemes to get them. Lewd and lascivious toward them, he makes all sorts of innuendos and cat calls. Pantalone believes that everything can be bought.

PLOT FUNCTION

Just like Il Capitano and Il Dottore, Pantalone is set up to fall or made to look like a fool. He is taken advantage of and ends up without his money or swindled out of most of it. His servants (Brighella, Arlecchino, Zanni or all three) are usually the ones that set him up for his fall.