Le bravure del Capitano Spavento

Le bravure del Capitano Spavento is a work by Francesco Andreini, an Italian actor of commedia dell’arte. The commedia dell'arte was a form of popular theatre that flourished in Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries, characterized by stock characters, masks, and improvisation within a set framework.12

Capitano Spavento ("Captain Fearsome") was a specific character within this tradition, a parody of boastful soldiers. He was known for his exaggerated claims of bravery and success, which were often undermined by his squire. Francesco Andreini, who played this role, published descriptions of it, including dialogue and stage business, in a work titled Le bravure del Capitano Spavento ("The Bravery of Captain Spavento"). This character type, the Capitano, was a descendant of the ancient Roman "Miles Gloriosus" (braggart soldier) and evolved over time, losing political overtones to simply represent an arrogant boaster.31