Commedia dell'arte, meaning "comedy of the profession" was an early form of professional theatre, originating from Italy, characterized by masked "types". Commedia dell'arte has four stock character groups: the servants or Zanni; the old men or vecchi; the lovers or innamorati ; and the captains or Capitani who can also be La Signora if a female. Patrons know immediately who a character is by their mask or costume. ...