Arlequin poli par l'amour is a one-act romantic comedy by French playwright Marivaux. Its title could be translated into English as Harlequin, refined by love. Arlequin poli par l'amour was first performed 17 October 1720 by the Comédie Italienne. In this play, a fairy tries to force Arlequin to fall in love with her. Instead, Arlequin falls in love with Silvia, a shepherdess. With the help of the fairy's servant Trivelin, the two manage to trick...
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Arlequin poli par l'amour is a one-act romantic comedy by French playwright Marivaux. Its title could be translated into English as Harlequin, refined by love. Arlequin poli par l'amour was first performed 17 October 1720 by the Comédie Italienne. In this play, a fairy tries to force Arlequin to fall in love with her. Instead, Arlequin falls in love with Silvia, a shepherdess. With the help of the fairy's servant Trivelin, the two manage to trick the fairy and live happily ever after.
Its plot and comedic features were strongly influenced by the traditional Italian theatre of the Commedia dell'arte. Arlequin and Trivelin are stock characters of the Commedia dell'arte, and Silvia is a name associated with the female romantic lead.
Marivaux makes use of several traditional lazzi as well. For example, near the beginning of the play, Arlequin tries to catch invisible flies while the fairy is trying to have a serious conversation with him. At the end, Arlequin uses the fairy's magic wand...
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