Stooped posture

submissive role

While the play may include young lovers and parents often from the aristocracy, Zanni would provide comic relief as a servant. Not only was this reinforced through the way they dressed, the actors would also adopt an exaggerated crouched, subservient posture, reflecting their position in society and the backbreaking nature of being a physical labourer. The actor who played Zanni would actually be quite limber as the role often involved physically demanding acrobatics.