Editing Il Capitano (section)

==Role==
"I think of him as a peacock who has moulted all but one of his tail feathers, but does not know it", notes author John Rudlin.{{sfn|Rudlin|1994|p=}}{{page needed|date=September 2020}} In this case, his cowardice is usually overcome by the fury of his passion, which he makes every effort to demonstrate. Typically, however, his cowardice is such that when one of the characters orders him to do something, he often steps down out of fear, but is able to make up an excuse that ensures the other characters still see him as a brave and fierce individual. [[Columbina|Columbine]] sometimes uses him to make [[Harlequin]] (Arlecchino) jealous, much to il Capitano's bewilderment and fright.

===Origin===
The origin of il Capitano comes from 2 literary sources: [[Plautus]]'s ''[[Alazon|miles gloriosus]]'' and Terence's ''Eunuchus''.<ref name=":3" /> The first famous Capitano, Capitan Spaventa, appeared in [[Francesco Andreini]]'s ''Bravure di Capitan Spaventa'' ('The Boast of the Terrifying Captain').<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Commedia dell'Arte|last=Smith|first=Winifred|publisher=Benjamin Blom|year=1964|pages=8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The History of the Harlequinade Volume 1|last=Sand|first=Maurice|publisher=Benjamin Blom|year=1915|location=London|pages=150}}</ref>{{sfn|Lawner|1998|page=22}}

===''Lazzi''===
# Whenever il Capitano sees the audience, he stops to be admired.{{sfn|Rudlin|1994|p=}}{{page needed|date=September 2020}}
# Il Capitano gloats to Harlequin about his expertise with the ladies and then proceeds to demonstrate on Harlequin how he would make love to a woman.{{sfn|Rudlin|1994|p=}}{{page needed|date=September 2020}}
# He wakes up to find he is not the only one in the room. Someone is crouching in the corner. He shakes his fist at the person, the person shakes their fist back at the same time. It turns out the person in the room is just il Capitano's reflection in a [[full-length mirror]].<ref name=":2" />
# When frightened, he often screams in a high and womanly [[falsetto]], or else faints.

===Stance===
He stands in a high posture, occupying as much space as possible, with a straight back and his chest pushed forward.<ref name=":0" />

===Plot function===
To be exposed or 'de-masked'. He exists to be stripped of his excessive confidence and shown in a moment of panic and humility.{{sfn|Rudlin|1994|p=}}{{page needed|date=September 2020}}

===Famous actors===
* [[Francesco Andreini]]<ref name=":3" />
* [[Antonio Fava]]{{sfn|Rudlin|1994|p=}}{{page needed|date=September 2020}}