Pedrolino or Pierotto. A servant or valet clad in mostly white, created by Giovanni Pellesini. Famous Harlequins 16th century Alberto Naselli (Zan Ganassa) 17th century Tristano Martinelli Domenico Biancolelli Evaristo Gherardi 18th century Pier Francesco Biancolelli Tommaso Visentini Carlo Bertinazzi 19th century William Payne The Payne Brothers 20th century Marcello Moretti English harlequinade and pantomime The Harlequin character came to England early in the 17th century and took center stage in the derived genre of the Harlequinade, developed in the early 18th century by the Lincoln's Fields Theatre's actor-manager John Rich, who played the role under the name of Lun. He developed the character of Harlequin into a mischievous magician who was easily able to evade Pantaloon and his servants to woo Columbine. Harlequin used his magic batte or "slapstick" to transform the scene from the pantomime into the harlequinade and to magically change the settings to various locations during the chase scene. As the Harlequinade portion of English pantomime developed, Harlequin was routinely paired with the character Clown. Two developments in 1800, both involving Joseph Grimaldi, greatly changed the pantomime characters. Grimaldi starred as Clown in Charles Dibdin's 1800 pantomime, Peter Wilkins: or Harlequin in the Flying World at Sadler's Wells Theatre. For this elaborate production, Dibdin and Grimaldi introduced new costume designs. Clown's costume was "garishly colourful ... patterned with large diamonds and circles, and fringed with tassels and ruffs," instead of the tatty servant's outfit that had been used for a century. The production was a hit, and the new costume design was copied by others in London. Later the same year, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in Harlequin Amulet; or, The Magick of Mona. Harlequin was modified to become "romantic and mercurial, instead of mischievous", leaving Grimaldi's mischievous and brutish Clown as the "undisputed agent" of chaos, and the foil for the more sophisticated Harlequin, who retained and developed stylized dance poses during the 19th century. The most influential pair playing Harlequin and Clown in Victorian England were the Payne Brothers, active during the 1860s and 1870s, who contributed to the development of 20th-century "slapstick" comedy. See also Harley Quinn Joker Arlecchino (opera) Clown Jester Mr. Harley Quin Harlequin (DC Comics) Punch and Judy "Repent, Harlequin!" Said the Ticktockman Tricky slave Notes Bibliography Andrews, Richard (2008). The Commedia dell'arte of Flamino Scala: A Translation and Analysis of 30 Scenarios. Lanham, Maryland: The Scarecrow Press. .