Position:  

lowest. 

Zanni can also refer to a CLASS of characters, with their own names.  but if a character is named ZANNI, this is their description

Role:  

servant, peasant, side-kick, clown, valets, 

Mental: 

Our modern English word zany is derived from this character. It means eccentric, bizarre, weird, peculiar, odd, and quirky. 

The Zani is essentially a character who has to anticipate the needs of those around him but who has very little natural intellect.  He doesn't question those above him. He lives to keep them from abusing him or being angry with him.  

Loves practical jokes and intrigues.

Social: 

he is curious and inquisitive of everything around him, because. He is enthusiastic and excitable as his main goal is to serve and please those around him

Physical:  

He leads with his nose. He is hunched over in a pigeon stance. He's nervous and constantly in motion. He defers to everyone he meets and moves to be lower than anyone he speaks with. He looks up at all the other players.  He is in constant motion, his hands are always fidgeting. He might sniff or seem to 'feel the air' if nervous.

Modern interpretation: 

Lefoux in Beauty and the Beast

Patrick in Spongebob Squarepants

Position:  

middle class

Role: 

an old merchant, a powerful but ridiculous businessman. A more ridiculous magnifico with a smaller circle of power.

Mental: 

fixed in his own way.

Social: 

extremely mean and obnoxious. He is unpleasant to everyone and only cares for himself.  Does little to no work but expects everything the way he wants it.

Physical:  

walks hunched over like Zanni, heavily weighed down walk

Modern interpretation: 

Mr Burns, Homer’s boss in the Simpsons

Position:  

Middle class, same level as Pantaloni

Role: 

professor, teacher, lecturer, doctor

Mental: 

He is the one who has an extensive knowledge on everything ever

Social: 

he is dim and senseless when it comes to interreacting or socializing. 

Physical:  

He walks with his weight forward and often rubs his stomach whilst reciting waffle about intellectual things.

Modern interpretation: 

University professor

Position:  

Servant/lower class

Role: 

Brighella is also one of the servants along with Zanni, however spends their time mostly with Harlequino.  a Mind character

Mental: 

He works extremely hard, is the master of the servants and is very proud to be so.  He is very cunning. He thinks ahead with an attitude of ‘what can I get out of this?’.

Social: 

Brighella is very brainy and cunning, and is often annoyed at Harlequino for being so theatrical and silly. Much like the way there is a master servant relationship between Magnifico and Zanni, there is a power complex between Brighella and Harlequino. He has a more professional relationship with Magnifico than Zanni does and takes pride in his status. He is very gracious to those he serves and can hide anger he has towards his ‘staff’ when necessary, much like a Maitre'de in a restaurant. He is often seen flirting with the first actresses.

Physical:  

Models his walk after Magnifico but is looser in his movements. He will bow to those above him, but with a stiffness that shows his level

Modern interpretation: 

Louis from Suits

Saul from Breaking Bad

Position:  

This character isn’t a part of the community that the other characters are; she is earthy and devious and is capable of supernatural power. She is essentially the Magnifico of the countryside and often opposes him. 

Role:

 truth-teller, witch, wise woman, soothsayer, clan leader...   Mind character

Mental: 

She is independent,  wise,  and often angry. She will set herself opposite of the men in power.

Social: 

She is principally the outcast of the cast and is often by herself.

Physical:  

Physically, she walks hunched and crooked and moves in figures of eight to make her physicality fluent and mystical.

Modern interpretation: 

Draco Malfoy mother and aunts

Fairy godmother cinderella

Position:  

lower servant

Role: 

jester or joker sort of character. a Body character.

Mental: 

he is the opposite of Brighella. He's all body and awfully dim.  He doesn't know the difference between right and wrong

Social: 

He is interested in everything that could possibly bring him food or fun. He isn't concerned about people as such but lives in the moment. He will do everything to make things more interesting or to feed himself.

Physical:  

He is modeled off of a monkey. He is very acrobatic and will bounce around the stage, throwing himself around. He is incredibly playful and doesn't think about the consequences of his actions

Modern interpretation: 

Stitch from Lilo and Stitch

Harley Quinn in DC comics

Puck in Midsummernight Dream

Position:  

outsider/servant

Role: 

often a foreign soldier or worker who struggles to fit into the community.  

 Mind character

Mental: 

Conceited and self-aware.  Thinks that life has been hard on him, when in reality he is a weak deserter and a coward.

Social: 

Typically a foreigner (often Spanish).  He is full of false pride and will chase the ladies who do not necessarily want him to. 

Physical:  

walks with his nose up, back arches, and knees forward,  because he feels he is a magnifico character, but his movements lack grace and poise.  He is extremely jumpy and weak.

Modern interpretation: 

Scaramouche 

Drax in Galaxy Quest

Position:  

Central and pivotal to the task.

Role: 

Servant role, but  both a body and a mind character

Mental: 

She is academically advanced and is intellectual on worldly subjects such as love, human nature and life.  She is as mischievious and smart as Brighella, and goofy and playful as Harlequino. Smart as Pantaloni with money.   She's a perfect balance of feminine and masculine characteristics.

Social: 

 She is extremely inviting and will often flirt with the audience and other characters. She is the center of the social structure even if she has a lower position. She is never hungry or broke and is comfortable in her life. 

Physical:  

she moves as a normal human but will mimic the mannerisms of the other characters to either mock them or make them feel at ease.

Modern interpretation: 

2 broke girls

Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey

Position:  

High society leaders

Role: 

They are a classically grand, tragic and politically aristocratic couple who take control of what they want and harm those who disagree. 

Mental: 

Poised and polished

Social: 

They are lovers of each other but often betray each other.  Together they are a manipulative power, seperatly they are dangerous and cunning. They are often associated with violence, murder, or injury to maintain their position.

Physical:  

They move in a way that mimics Magnifico but will show far more emotion.

Modern interpretation: 

Succession

Sopranoes

Empire

Jessica in Suits

Position:  

High society children

Role: 

These two are the young lovers who are the children of Pantaloni and the Doctor or 1st and 2nd actor

Mental: 

They are adolescents and in love, and therefore are traditionally feeble and dim to their elders. Unlike Columbina‘s human mental features...

Social: 

Due to their families' wealth and status, they are brilliantly educated and can grow in the way their parents have.

Physical:  

physically they are very human-like.

Modern interpretation:

Any high school tv series.

Position:  

High society children

Role: 

These two are the young lovers who are the children of Pantaloni and the Doctor or 1st and 2nd actor

Mental: 

They are adolescents and in love, and therefore are traditionally feeble and dim to their elders. Unlike Columbina‘s human mental features...

Social: 

Due to their families' wealth and status, they are brilliantly educated and can grow in the way their parents have.

Physical:  

physically they are very human-like.

Modern interpretation:

Any high school tv series.