These maids had numerous names but they were amongst the most popular female characters in commedia dell'arte and possibly the first women permitted to act on stage in Europe! Franceschina is the popular early name most often used by i Gelosi. A short time later, the name Colombina became quite popular and is still famous today, especially beause of influence in ballet, opera, and puppetry as Columbine (for example, she is a character in the ballet The Nutcracker along with a Harlequin). Ricciolina is also a common name, especially in older scenarios and quite often used if the play has a second maid. Women began acting in the female roles early in the history of commedia. Before this, the plays had an abundance of silly zanni servants - including female servants called zagna played by male actors but with little feminine portrayal. However, women soon took to the stage (in scandal and in popularity) and the fantesca was born. These early maids were often somewhat foolish and simple, less refined, more baudy, quick to spook, and still similar to the male zanni but at least they were visibly different. And again, it wasn't long before the rise of the servetta, a much stronger, clever, and confident woman. She is the lead, and often only, female servant. She is usually the maid to the principle innamorata and thus in the employ of one of the vecchi. She is usually sassy, saucy, and sarcastic and doesn't take gruff from her boss and usually takes pleasure in annoying him. She often plays a big-sisterly role to the amarosa in helping her achieve her romantic dreams but can sometimes be motherly as well. This is important as in most plays the amarosa has no other female guidiance. The servetta is usually smart, crafty, observant, and nearly impossible to fool, wiser than all the other characters in the play. She will see through people's lies and disguises and discover hidden devious plots. Much of her action is untangle the knots and make things right by the end - though she'll often do it by tricking the antagonists, sometimes for her own amusement of their folly. In many plays, she's the only one who figures out how to make the plot have a happy ending, though the clever version of Pedrolino can be good at that too. Probably her only weakness is her love for men. The early Franceschina might lust after any attractive young man they see (and the more simply ones prone to fall for any flattery). A later Colombina would often place her fancy on Arlecchino, Pedrolino, or another stupid zanni despite their foolishness. The biggest mistake the servetta usually makes is entrusting the stupid zanni with important tasks in hopes this one time he'll better himself. She isn't, however, opposed to chasing after the likes of an attractive Capitano; she usually sees through his boasting but doesn't mind having a little fun and can often intimate the supposed braggart and lady's-man. She can be quite a sexual character but she is confident and the one in control of all her relationships and never feels ashamed of her past. The servetta, especially the later Colombina, would often given the opening buon giorno monolog - possibly because she's the only character smart enough to know what's going on to give an introduction! Smeraldina is another name for a similar maid and could be interchangeable with the above. However, some troupes today, including The Confused Greenies, give a slight spin on this version. She might not be grotesque and crude like the stupidier male zanni, but she's often foolish, more chaotic and less refined and stable. She could only be slightly strange or completely insane. She provides a nice departure while leaving the clever servetta to the above roles.

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The Confused Greenies is an officially recognized student organization by the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) of Case Western Reserve University but The Confused Greenies do not represent USG or the University or its policies. i Verdi Confusi is an active troupe in the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) but is not an officially recognized entity nor represents the SCA, any local chapters, or policies. Email the troupe at lazzi@case.edu with any questions or comments. This page last updated on Friday, January 16, 2009.