Zanni (Italian: [ˈdzanni]) or Zani is a character type of Commedia dell'arte best known as an astute servant and trickster. The Zanni comes from the countryside. The Zanni is known to be a “dispossessed immigrant worker”. Throughout time, the Zanni grew to be a popular figure who was first seen in commedia as early as the fourteenth century. The English word zany derives from this persona.
The name Zanni (as well as Zuan) is a Venetian variant of the name Gianni and was common in the Lombard-Venetian countryside which provided most of the servants to the wealthy nobles and merchants of Venice. It is one of the oldest characters in Commedia dell'arte but over the course of time became subdivided into a number of similar characters with more specific traits. These included Arlecchino, Pulcinella, Mezzettino and Truffaldino, as well as Beltrame and Brighella. Arlecchino, for example, was more representative of a jester than an ordinary servant and was frequently depicted as very acrobatic. Zanni was shortened to Zan when used to provide further identification of an individual. For example, Zan Ganassa was the stage name of Alberto Naseli, who was one of the first actors specializing in Zanni roles to perform outside of Italy.
Zanni is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Away i fall to you
To stay silent no more
Anyone with a clue wouldn't do as i've done
But the fear that you know is the fear you become to love
I want to say
I want to go
I'm so afraid
To be alone
All right, it's time for the truth
My love means more than i ever will
Anyone this confused needs someone show them the way to
If i just find the strength to forget myself
I want it all
I want nothing
I'm so afraid
I'm so afraid
I want to stay
I want to go
I'm so afraid
To be alone
Is this how my life is supposed to be
It's not enough, but too much for my heart to hold
Is this how my life is supposed to be