Hog Zanni Commedia dell'Arte Theatre Mask Front View

Hog Zanni Commedia dell'Arte Theatre Mask Side View

Hog Zanni Commedia dell’Arte Mask

£75.00

HOG ZANNI - CHARACTER TRAITS

Slow, gluttonous, and driven by appetite.
Simple-minded but occasionally insightful.
Motivated by food, rest, and physical comfort.
Heavy, grounded movement with bursts of clumsy energy.
Comedic through excess, greed, and unfiltered emotion.

PRODUCT FEATURES

Durable and lightweight Hog Zanni Commedia dell’Arte mask.
Made from high-impact plastic for long-lasting use.
Hand-painted to a professional performance standard finish.
Includes black elastic strap and foam pads for comfortable fit.
Suitable for both professional and student use.
Made to order in the UK. Ships in 20 working days.

ABOUT OUR COMMEDIA MASKS

Rooted in the vibrant tradition of Italian street theatre, our Commedia dell'Arte masks are made from high-impact plastic, making them durable, lightweight, and comfortable to wear. Each mask represents a classic stock character and is designed to provoke the exaggerated physicality and emotional expression that brings Commedia characters to life.

These masks are ideal for performance and invaluable tools for workshops and actor training.

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THE HOG ZANNI CHARACTER IN COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE

Hog Zanni is the embodiment of greed, indulgence, and simple-minded satisfaction. Unlike his sprightlier servant counterparts, he is slow-moving and gluttonous, driven by his appetite and bodily needs. His humour lies in his obliviousness and physical excess—he snorts, grunts, and blunders his way through situations, often creating chaos without realising it. Though foolish, his earthy simplicity can sometimes reveal an unexpected wisdom born from instinct rather than intellect.

HOG ZANNI’S RELATIONSHIPS AND MOTIVATIONS

Hog Zanni usually serves Pantalone or Il Dottore, though his loyalty is as fickle as his appetite. Easily distracted by food, money, or the promise of rest, he often bungles orders or misunderstands his master’s intentions. He may envy Arlecchino’s agility or Brighella’s cunning, yet his honesty and lack of guile make him strangely likeable. His motivations are basic—eat, rest, and survive—but through his bumbling simplicity, he mirrors the absurdity of human desire itself.

HOG ZANNI IN PERFORMANCE: PHYSICALITY AND MOVEMENT

In performance, Hog Zanni’s body is heavy, earthy, and grounded. His movements are slow and exaggerated, with rolling steps, drooping shoulders, and sudden bursts of clumsy energy. He scratches, snuffles, and waddles, his gestures following his appetites rather than logic. The comedy of Hog Zanni lies in the contrast between his physical bulk and his childlike emotions—his joy, greed, and confusion are all big, bold, and immediate, making him both ridiculous and irresistibly human.