This document discusses the history and use of masks in various forms of traditional theater and performance. It describes how masks were used in ancient Greek theater to create exaggerated facial expressions that caused panic in audiences. Masks and stock characters were also used in Roman and Italian Commedia dell'Arte performances. Different regions developed characteristic mask representations, like Pulcinella in Neapolitan puppetry and Columbine from Venice. The document outlines some traditional masked characters and their roles, and notes how Sicilian puppet theater tells epic stories through masked figures.

1. MASKS
Comenius Project “Lost in Time”
Istituto Superiore “E.Majorana”
Palermo (Italy)

2. Masks are familiar and vivid
elements in many folk and
traditional pageants,
ceremonies, rituals and festivals,
and date back to ancient origins.
Normally part of a costume that
adorns the whole body and
embodies an important
tradition both for the religious
and social life, masks and
puppets are often integrated in
theatre plays.

3. Here are some of the
ancient masks characteristic
in Greek theatre (700 BC).
In Athens, in the Dionysus’
worship , classical masks
used to create a sense of
dread in the audience
causing serious panic,
especially since they had
intensely exaggerated facial
features and expressions.

4. In his comedies, the Roman
playwright of the Old Latin
period, Plautus, revolved mostly
around daily life and average
people. In his popular farces
we find improvisation, the use
of masks and clownish stock-
characters such as
the servant (Servus), the
ancient (Senex), the
maidservant ( ancilla) , the
vainglorious soldier (miles
gloriosus).

5. The “Commedia dell‘ Arte” is
a form of improvisational
Italian 16th century theatre .
The actors used to wear
masks and the stories were
often about cunning people.
Hunger, love and money were
the main themes. The most
famous characters are
Pantalone, Arlecchino,
Colombina, Pulcinella,
Scaramuccia, each region
having its own representative
mask.

6. Punch or Pulcinelle, became
and is still the stock
character in Neapolitan
puppetry. He wears a white
and black mask representing
the opposites of life and
death.

7. Arlecchino or Harlequin, is a
crafty servant figure, a thief, a
liar and a trickster. He always
quarrels with his master and he
is obsessed with money to get
food in order to satisfy his
enormous appetite. His
costume is made up of
colourful patches and the hare-
tail on his cap indicates his
cowardice.

8. Columbine, a very pretty
and affectionate servant
comes from Venice. She
wears a ragged and
patched dress and a white
cap on her head. She
usually does not wear a
mask on her face.

9. Peppe Nappa is one of the
most popular Sicilian
masks. He wears a very
simple bright blue suit with
large sleeves and a hat. He
is a lazy servant and a
sluggard; a good-for-
nothing person only
interested in food.

10. “Opera dei Pupi “
The original stylistic and
figurative structure of
these Sicilian puppets tells
the epic and chivalrous
spirit of the clashes
between the knights of
Charlemagne and the
Moors. They represent the
thirst for justice of the less
fortunate social classes. In
2001 the “Opera dei Pupi”
was placed on UNESCO's
Immaterial Heritage of
Humanity.

11. According to Pirandello, a
Sicilian playwright and
Nobel Award, life is a stage
on which each of us acts
out a drama with him/
herself as a hero.
In fact his assumption
”all the world is a stage
and all men and women
merely players” is still
effective.