Pantalone 2 Commedia dell'Arte Theatre Mask Front View

Pantalone 2 Commedia dell'Arte Theatre Mask Side View

Pantalone Commedia dell’Arte Mask - Veneziano

£75.00

PANTALONE - CHARACTER TRAITS

Wealthy, status-conscious elder driven by pride and self-importance.
Suspicious, controlling, and fearful of being deceived.
Moves with stiff, hunched posture and quick, protective gestures.
Motivated by money, reputation, and preserving authority.
Easily flustered, leading to comedic loss of dignity.

PRODUCT FEATURES

Durable and lightweight Pantalone 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.

More details

THE PANTALONE CHARACTER IN COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE

Pantalone is the wealthy merchant at the center of power, authority, and age-old dignity—at least in his own mind. He is greedy, proud, and deeply concerned with status. Yet his self-importance is continuously undermined by frailty, stubbornness, and his inability to control the younger, livelier characters around him. Whether clutching his money pouch or boasting loudly of his business dealings, Pantalone is the embodiment of wealth, age, and vulnerability. His arrogance and vanity invite mockery, making him both a figure of authority and a comedic victim of his own pretensions.

PANTALONE’S RELATIONSHIPS AND MOTIVATIONS

Pantalone is often a father figure — sometimes literally, sometimes symbolically — attempting to guard his wealth and family name from the chaos around him. He frequently employs servants such as Arlecchino and often clashes with Il Dottore in matters of intellect and pride. His greatest fear is being deceived or made a fool of, yet he is constantly tricked by the love-struck young, cunning servants, and flirtatious Colombina. Pantalone’s motivations revolve around preserving his money, controlling his household, and preventing romantic entanglements — especially those that threaten his status. But despite all his efforts, he is endlessly outmaneuvered.

PANTALONE IN PERFORMANCE: PHYSICALITY AND MOVEMENT

In performance, Pantalone’s body reflects age, rigidity, and stubborn pride. The spine curves forward, the pelvis tilts under him, and his steps are short, quick, and delicate, as if protecting his aching joints and his money pouch. Gestures are sharp and dismissive, hands flicking outward or clutching anxiously toward his chest. His voice is nasal and impatient, his breath thin and tight. When angered or flustered, Pantalone’s physical control collapses in bursts of frantic movement — a momentary loss of dignity that always snaps back into self-importance. This contrast between stiff authority and sudden collapse is the comedic core of his character.