Il Dottore

The Dottore ( Italian for " doctor", often Dottore Gratiano or Graziano, Balanzone, Scarpazon, Forbizone, Boloardo ), is a figure of the Commedia dell'arte, which dates from Bologna. He is as Pantalone to the "old " ( vecchi ) that the love affairs of the younger generation oppose ( the amorosi or innamorati ) and the servants ( Zanni ).

Characteristics

The Dottore has studied at the University of Bologna or Padua University, the most prestigious universities in the Renaissance, and is characterized by superior attitude and erudite talk, interspersed with " Latin Cuisine ". He mixes legal, medical, philosophical and astrological terms, comically.

The Dottore is a lawyer or doctor. It is usually rich, widowed or also a bachelor. Sometimes he is shown as a very short-sighted. He wears a half-mask, a black coat with white ruff and a big hat, the costume of academics from Bologna. His cheeks are often colored red to highlight his love of wine.

Effect in the history of theater

The doctors in Molière's comedy The Imaginary Invalid ( 1673 ) are modeled after the Dottore. In the opera buffa of the 18th century, he is a standing role. Still in Gioachino Rossini's opera The Barber of Seville ( 1816), he appears as Dottore Bartolo. The stylistic device of Dottore character frequently make use of theater figures who appear dressed as a doctor or lawyer, including about Despina in Mozart's Così fan tutte (1790). Also in vaudeville or silent film since 1900, there are performers who make use of the traditional Lazzi of Dottore, so still about Oliver Hardy.