Pantalone

Costume  Mask   Movement

•     Pantalone is a rich, old, lecherous man whose whole reason for being is money.  He is very high on the social ladder of his town, and losing his money would make him drop in status, something that he fears more than anything.  His servants, the Zanni, are working for him day and night.

    Pantalone also lusts after women, but is incapable of fulfilling his fantasies.  Because of this, he makes unending catcalls and innuendoes towards them.  If a woman does happen to respond to him (unlikely as that is), he is forced to retreat, since he can't act on anything.  He believes that anything can be bought, and, while he is incredibly stingy, Pantalone will offer money to get whatever he wants.  He will not, however, pay for anything, insisting that he's already paid.

    For a modern equivalent, think of Mr. Burns from "The Simpsons."  He walks in the same manner as Pantalone, and his face even looks like the mask.
 

•     Pantalone's costume, as you can see from the picture above, consists of tight red trousers or stockings, a jacket, a loose black cloak with long, free-flowing sleeves, a red cap and slippers.  He always carries a money purse on his belt.

• His mask features a long, pointed nose that curves downward.  He also has small eyes, and usually a mustache.

•     This character walks with his back hunched over, serving two purposes--to show how old he is, and so he can protect his money purse.  His age is also shown in his walk; his knees are bent and his feet shuffle quickly along the ground.  His hands also move quickly, gesturing wildly to elaborate on every thought he has, while his arms stay very close to his body.  At bad news, or the slightest touch, Pantalone falls on his back and curls up like a beetle, unable to get up unless someone helps him.