Editing Brighella

{{Short description|Character from de theatre style Commedia dell'arte}}
{{Refimprove|date=July 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

[[Image:SAND Maurice Masques et bouffons 02.jpg|thumb|right|Brighella, from the 16th century]]
'''Brighella''' ([[Bergamasque dialect]]: ''Brighèla'') is a comic, masked character from the [[Theatre of Italy|Italian theatre]] style [[commedia dell'arte]]. His early [[costume]] consisted of loosely fitting, white [[smock-frock|smock]] and pants with green trim and was often equipped with a ''{{lang|it|batocio}}'' (also ''{{lang|it|batacchio}}'' or ''{{lang|it|battacio}}'', depending on region) or [[Clapper (musical instrument)#Whip/slapstick|slapstick]], or else with a wooden sword. Later, he took to wearing a sort of [[livery]] with a matching cape. He wore a greenish half-[[mask]] (traditionally [[Olive (color)|olive-green]]) displaying a look of [[preternatural]] [[lust]] and [[greed]]. It is distinguished by a hook nose and thick lips, along with a thick twirled mustache to give him an offensive characteristic.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Commedia dell'arte : an actor's handbook|first=John|last=Rudlin|date=1994-01-01|publisher=Routledge|pages=84|oclc=27976194}}</ref> He evolved out of the general [[Zanni]], as evidenced by his costume, and came into his own around the start of the 16th century.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Commedia dell'Arte|last=Oreglia|first=Giacomo|date=1968-01-01|publisher=Hill & Wang|pages=71|oclc=939808594}}</ref>

He is loosely categorized as one of the Zanni or [[Domestic worker|servant]] characters, although he often was portrayed as a member of the [[middle class]], such as a [[tavern]] owner: his character could be adapted to whatever the needs to the scenario might be, just as Brighella himself is adaptable to any circumstance. He is essentially [[Harlequin]]'s smarter and much more vindictive older brother. They both share the same traditional birthplace: [[Bergamo]], a city in northern Italy. As in a stereotype of those who have risen from [[poverty]], he is often most cruel to those beneath him on the social ladder; he even goes so far as to kill on occasion.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Commedia dell'Arte|last=Oreglia|first=Giacomo|date=1968-01-01|publisher=Hill & Wang|pages=72|oclc=939808594}}</ref> In later versions of his character these violent and malicious traits were lessened substantially. [[Pierre Louis Duchartre]], in his ''The Italian Comedy'', theorizes that in France, the gentrified Brighella eventually culminated in the character of [[The Barber of Seville (play)|Figaro]], known from the plays and operas.

Brighella is a masterful liar, and can make up a spur-of-the moment lie for any situation. He is an inveterate schemer, and he is good at what he does. If his plans failed, it was almost always out of luck on behalf of the other characters. When he is a servant, he will either serve his master devotedly or look for every opportunity to ruin and take advantage of him as he happens to see fit—whatever will gain the greatest advantage for himself and himself alone. He is fond of money, but spends it rapidly, and tends to be especially fond of the drink. In fact, he has few good qualities, save for his ability to entertain the audience.<ref name=":1" />

His walk is distinguishable from the traditional Zanni movement by the torso bending from side to side, while the head stays vertical. The knees stay open and the elbows bend down with each movement of the leg.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Commedia dell'arte : an actor's handbook|first=John|last=Rudlin|date=1994-01-01|publisher=Routledge|pages=87|oclc=27976194}}</ref>

His character is usually from uptown Milano or Bergamo, and in the original Italian would often speak with the local accent. He could be very witty and fond of wordplay. He is also an accomplished singer, dancer and musician, and sometimes would play the guitar on stage.

His name comes from an Italian word which can mean 'bother' or 'contention'; ''[[John Florio|Florio]]'s 1611 Italian-English Dictionary'' defines [[:wikt:briga|''briga'']] as meaning 'a brable, a braule, a contention'. Brighella  in English would be therefore something like 'Fighty' or 'Brawly'. The other Italian word ''[[:wikt:attaccabrighe|attaccabrighe]]'' ('hellraiser') utilizes the same element.

==Famous Brighellas==
'''17th century''':
* Domenico Boroncini<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=The Commedia dell'Arte|last=Oreglia|first=Giacomo|date=1968-01-01|publisher=Hill & Wang|pages=73|oclc=939808594}}</ref>

'''18th century''':
* Giuseppe Antonio Angeleri
* Tommaso Fortunati
* Pietro Gandini
* Carlo Campi
* Atanasio Zanoni<ref name=":0" />

==Variants==
A list of variations of the character, according to Duchartre, are:

*'''[[Beltrame]]''': from the 17th century, a "wilfully blind husband and rascal as crafty as Brighella". He was Milanese and spoke the local dialect. As part of his costume, he apparently wore a distinctive large tunic.
*'''Scapin''', or '''[[Scapino]]''': a much more nervous and cowardly version of Brighella.
*'''Truccagnino''': see Fenocchio.
*'''[[Mezzetino]]''': a gentler version of Brighella, fond of the ladies even if they were not fond of him.
*'''Fenocchio''': more prone to playing pranks than committing serious intrigues, he otherwise shared Brighella's fondness for malice.
*'''Flautino''': a musical Brighella, often singing [[a cappella]]. The [[Comédie-Italienne]] actor Giovanni Gherardi, who performed this role, was able to perform the part of an entire orchestra with his voice alone.{{sfn|Nicoll|1976|pp=77, 79}}
*'''Sbrigani''': sometimes the exact opposite of Brighella, otherwise an identical character; like twins. Frequently appeared alongside Brighella onstage.
*'''Franca Trippa''', '''Francatrippa''' or '''Francatrippe''': created in the late 16th century, spoke a mixture of Bolognese and Tuscan dialects. An upper-class Brighella. Could be capable of [[Gymnastics|gymnastic]] or other physical feats.   
*'''Turlupin''' or '''Tirelupin''': a French Brighella created by [[Henri Legrand]]. The name means, according to Duchartre, 'unlucky'. However, the ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'' mentions an etymology relating to a cult that modelled themselves on the [[Cynicism (philosophy)|Cynics]] and lived off of ''lupins'' that they gathered (''tiraient''). The character was reputedly fond of vulgar wordplay.   
*'''Gandolin''': a French Brighella, very fond of wordplay and puns. Sometimes wears a fur-lined plumed hat.
*'''Fritellino''' or '''Fristelin''': see Francatrippa.  
*'''Sgnarelle''': a chronic drunk.
*'''Bagatino'''   
*'''Gradelino'''   
*'''Pasquariel'''   
*'''Buffet'''   
*'''Gian Fritello'''   
*'''Narcisino'''   
*'''Grattelard'''     
*'''Mascarille'''   
*'''La Montagne'''   
*'''Frontin'''   
*'''Labranche'''   
*'''Figaro''': as created by [[Pierre Beaumarchais|Beaumarchais]]. See ''[[The Barber of Seville (play)|Le Barbier de Séville]]''.

==See also==
* [[Commedia dell'arte]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last=Duchartre|first= Pierre Louis|title=The Italian Comedy: The Improvisation Scenarios Lives Attributes Portraits and Masks of the Illustrious Characters of the Commedia dell'Arte|location=Canada|publisher= Dover Publications|year=1966}}
* {{cite book |title=Commedia dell'arte |last=Rudlin |first=John |author2=Oliver Crick |year=2001 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-20409-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CgMKhwelZzUC&q=the+art+of+commedia |access-date=August 4, 2009}}
* {{cite book|title=The World of Harlequin: A Critical Study of the Commedia dell'Arte|last=Nicoll|first=Allardyce|location=Cambridge|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1976|orig-year=1963|isbn=0-521-29132-1}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027100540/http://geocities.com/commedia_dellarte/Characters/brighella/brighella.html A description of Brighella]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061014081454/http://www.carnivalofvenice.com/documento.asp?id=20 Carnival of Venice's page on Brighella]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070117123143/http://www.sipario.it/mbrighella.htm Sipario Cyclopedia's entry on Brighella (in Italian and English)]

[[Category:Fictional characters introduced in the 16th century]]
[[Category:Clever Zanni class characters]]
[[Category:Fictional Italian people]]
[[Category:Fictional tricksters]]