Tiberio Fiorelli

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Tiberio Fiorelli (November 9, 1608 – December 7, 1694), was an actor of commedia dell' arte, creator of the character of Scaramouche, director of the troop of Comédiens-Italien Theatre, which shared with the troop of his friend Molière the Theatre of the Petit-Bourbon, and it Theatre of the Palais Royal.

He was born in Naples, but left Italy around 1640 for unknown reasons, perhaps simply while following a troupe of actors, or to flee a political intrigue. He arrived in France under the reign of Louis XIII. His play pleased the queen, which enabled him to attend the court.

It is said that one day, when the two-year-old Dauphin cried (the future Louis XIV), Fiorelli, as Scaramouche, made any possible sound to comfort him. He achieved this task with grimaces and tomfoolery; consequently, the Dauphin had “a need, that he had at the time, the hands and the dress of Scaramouche”. Fiorelli was then ordered to visit the court every night to amuse the Dauphin, which helped the Scaramouche character become a stock figure in the theatre of the time. The character of Scaramouche became a standard role thereafter of the commedia dell' arte. He died in Paris.

[edit] In literature

• Angelo Constantini, called Mezetin, wrote a well-documented Life of Scaramouche (Paris 1695 and Brussels 1699).
• Rafael Sabatini wrote a novel entitled Scaramouche, remotely inspired by Fiorelli's life.