Masks
In header above: “The Seven Ages of Man,” a commission inspired by Jaques’ “All the World’s a Stage” monologue in Shakespeare’s “As You Like It.”
Wendy stumbled into the craft of mask making while studying at the Dell ‘Arte School of Physical theatre in 1995. From 1998-2014, Wendy ran “Arlecchina’s Masks” selling her work to collectors, performers, directors, theatres, and educators around the world. Many of the masks pictured here were custom made for a specific performance and specific actors. She incorporated her own masks into her solo show, The Divine Madness of Isabella, performed multiple times in Los Angeles.
- All
- Commedia
- Character Masks
- Greek Gods
- Greek Theatre
- Half Masks
- Leather
- Decorative
- Gargoyles
- Deities and Myths
- Seven Ages of Man
- Animals
- Asian Influenced
- Neutral
- Midsummer

The Hellhounds

Sedna
Sedna is the goddess of the sea and marine animals in Inuit mythology, also known as the Mother of the Sea or Mistress of the Sea. The story of Sedna, which is a creation myth, describes how she came to rule over Adlivun, the Inuit underworld.

Red Neutral

Il Dottore
"A Company of Wayward Saints," Write Act Rep

Scotty x 2

Pulcinella
Pulcinella is a Neapolitan addition to the Commedia stock characters. He usually has a hunchback and crooked nose.

Ceres
From "the Tempest" at Theatre Unleashed.

From Oedipus
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden of a Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh and Butoh.

Tom in the Flesh

100_1753

Neutrals – Group

Oedipus Blinded
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden in Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh, and Butoh.

Max in Yellow

Pyramus’ Death
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" Write Act Rep.

Three Fates
For Lorca's "Blood Wedding"

Bottom in Titania’s Fairy Court.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" Write Act Rep.

From Oedipus
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden of a Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh and Butoh.

The Fat Cat in blue

Ages of man – half

Comedy – Henchman 1

Old Woman – Half

Tragedy – King Creon

Red Neutrals

Man – Half

From Oedipus
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden of a Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh and Butoh.

Zeus (older)
Zeus is the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek mythology, who rules as king of the gods on Mount Olympus.

From Oedipus
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden of a Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh and Butoh.

Pantalone
"A Company of Wayward Saints," Write Act Rep

The Seventh Age

Greek Masks
Variation

Corinthian Women

Gargoyle
"Cheeks"

Columbina

Comedy – Old Woman

Shock – Half

Neutral

Oedipus – Tiresias
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden in Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh, and Butoh.

Thetis
In Greek Mythology, Thetis is a sea nymph, a goddess of water, and one of the 50 Nereids, daughters of the ancient sea god Nereus. She is also the mother of Achilles.

Dionysus
Dionysus is the Greek god of wine-making, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, festivity, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre.

Oedipus -Shepherd
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden in Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh, and Butoh.

Birds of a Feather

Comedy – Man 3

Gargoyle
"Fangs"

Theseus
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" Write Act Rep.

Arlecchino, Capitano & Dottore
"A Company of Wayward Saints," Write Act Rep

Prima donna

Satyr 1

The First Mask
The was the fist mask I ever made, while I was a student at Dell 'Arte.

The Fat Cat in Red

Pyramus
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" Write Act Rep. As Bottom plays Pyramus, he attempts to imitate his 'betters.'

Scapino
"A Company of Wayward Saints," Write Act Rep

Comedy – Pimp

Zanni

From Oedipus
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden of a Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh and Butoh.

Alfred
Alfred was based on the famous profile of Alfred Hitchcock.

La Vittoria
Vittoria Piisimi, prima donna of the Gelosi. Created for "The Divine Madness of Isabella."

Mule

Scotty in Pink

Woman – Half

Scotty in Lavender

Blanche

Artemis
Artemis is the Ancient Greek goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, nature, vegetation, childbirth, care of children, and chastity. She is Apollo's twin, and is identified with Selene, the personification of the Moon.

Perez

Bouffon Ball
"The Trial," Write Act Rep

Gargoyle
"Ears"

The Boogeyman

Cheryl 2

Arlecchino
"A company of Wayward Saints" Write Act Rep

Oedipus – Messenger
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden in Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh, and Butoh.

Hermes
Hermes is a Greek god and considered the messenger of the gods. He is also considered the protector of human heralds, travelers, thieves, merchants, and orators. He is able to move quickly and freely between the worlds of the mortal and the divine aided by his winged sandals. Hermes is also a psychopomp, a conductor of souls into the afterlife.

Thisbe
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" Write Act Rep. Francis Flute playing 'Thisbe' attempts to imitate Hippolyta's warrior ask, with limited success.

Three Goddesses
Thetis, Athena, and Hera relaxing during rehearsal.

Comedy – Man 2

Tragedy – Medea

Young Man – Half

Capitano

Harlequin

From Oedipus
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden of a Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh and Butoh.

Disgust
Originally Created for Kafka's "The Trial," Write Act Rep.

From Oedipus
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden of a Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh and Butoh.

Ares
Ares is the Greek god of war and courage. He embodies the physical valor necessary for success in war but can also personify sheer brutality and bloodlust, in contrast to his sister, the armored Athena, whose martial functions include military strategy and generalship.

Hippolyta
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" Write Act Rep.

100_1757

Tartaglia
Tartaglia- 'Stutterer' is a character in the commedia dell'arte. He is usually classed as one of the older characters (vecchio).

Hades
Hades is the Greek god of the dead and the king of the underworld (with which his name became synonymous). Hades' realm is guard by the three headed dog Cerberus.

Piggy Dottore

Murder

Hot Lips

Disgust and Cynicism
"The Trial" Write Act Repertory

Bottom with Titania.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" Write Act Rep.

Poseidon
Poseidon is the Greek God presiding over the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses. He was the protector of seafarers.

Arlecchino 2
Probably the best known and most beloved commedia character, Arlecchino is the perpetually hungry servant, the clever fool whose antics are the stuff of legend.

Hephaestus
Hephaestus is the Greek god of artisans, blacksmiths, carpenters, craftsmen, fire, metallurgy, metalworking, sculpture and volcanoes.

Arlecchino 3
Probably the best known and most beloved commedia character, Arlecchino is the perpetually hungry servant, the clever fool whose antics are the stuff of legend.

Derisive Laughter – Half

Tragedy – Young Man 1

Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, lust, beauty, pleasure, passion, and procreation. Flowers would blossom wherever Aphrodite walked.

Oedipus – Creon
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden in Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh, and Butoh.

Proud/Sad
This mask has an excellent example of a "swing" - in one position the mask looks haughty and proud, and from a different angle, it looks miserable. Most masks have at least one swing, some have many. Some swings are very distinct, as in this one, others are quite subtle.

From Oedipus
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden of a Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh and Butoh.

Oedipus
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden in Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh, and Butoh.

100_1756

Max x 2

From Oedipus
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden of a Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh and Butoh.

Tragedy – Young Man

Capitano

Broke Nose – Man

Harlequin – Full Face

Sexy Woman – half

From Oedipus
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden of a Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh and Butoh.

Socrates
A fellow getting his PhD in philosophy commissioned this mask. He said he couldn't imagine graduating without an enormous mask of Socrates.

Ocean

Arlecchina

Comedy – Henchman 2

Comedy – Red Beard

Stupino in Orange
"Stupino" is a modern addition to the Commedia Stock characters, created and developed at the Dell' Arte School of Physical Theatre, in Blue Lake, California. He/She is generally a servant. None too bright, Stupino usually has a good heart.

Columbina and Pantalone
"A Company of Wayward Saints," Write Act Rep

Piggy Dottore With Glasses

The First Age – in yellow

Sunset

Ghost
This fellow was never actually worn but suspended from a pole, with several others, each with a long white flowing drape behind them

Red Neutral

Scapino
"A Company of Wayward Saints," Write Act Rep.

100_1760

Max in the Flesh

Brighella

The Masque of the Red Death
This pair was created for a performance of Edgar Allen Poe's, "The Masque of the Red Death." The masks are held together with magnets, allowing the performer a seamless reveal.

From Oedipus
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden of a Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh and Butoh.

Sun and Moon

Apollo
Apollo is the Greek Deity of the Sun, truth and prophecy, healing and medicine, archery, music, dance, and poetry, and more.

Derisive Laughter
Originally Created for Kafka's "The Trial," Write Act Rep.

Juno
From "the Tempest" at Theatre Unleashed.

The Father

Tom in Pink

Thisbe at the death of Pyramus.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" Write Act Rep.

From Oedipus
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden of a Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh and Butoh.

Old Woman Death – Half
For Lorca's "Blood Wedding"

Alfred – profile
Alfred was based on the famous profile of Alfred Hitchcock.

Iris
From "the Tempest" at Theatre Unleashed.

Comedy – Middle Aged Man

Athena
Athena is an the Greek goddess associated with wisdom, warfare, and handicraft.

Worblehat

Zanni

From ‘Oedipus’
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden of a Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh and Butoh.

Cynicism
Originally Created for Kafka's "The Trial," Write Act Rep.

The Seven Ages of Man

Cynicism – Half

Cheryl 3

From Oedipus
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden of a Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh and Butoh.

Moon

Dark Laughter
Originally Created for Kafka's "The Trial," Write Act Rep

Brighella – female
There are almost no masks in the traditional Commedia for women (female characters were played without masks). Creating female versions of traditionally male masks yields interesting new possibilities.

A Pair of Toms

Capitano
"A Company of Wayward Saints," Write Act Rep

Scapino
"A Company of Wayward Saints," Write Act Rep

Pyramus speechifying.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" Write Act Rep.

Pantalone
"A Company of Wayward Saints" at Write Act Rep.

Tragedy – King Aegeus

Ghosts
These ghosts, built on masks from the Greek Theatre, were attached to a pole controlled by an actor and suspended in the air.

Hera
Hera is the Greek goddess of marriage, women, and family, and the protector of women during childbirth. She is queen of the twelve Olympians and Mount Olympus, sister and wife of Zeus. One of her defining characteristics is her jealousy and vengeful acts towards Zeus's numerous adulterous lovers and illegitimate offspring.

Pulcinella in the Flesh
Pulcinella is a Neapolitan addition to the Commedia stock characters. He usually has a hunchback and crooked nose.

Guard

Capitano and Columbina
"A Company of Wayward Saints," Write Act Rep

Charun
In Etruscan mythology, Charun (also spelled Charu, or Karun) acted as one of the psychopompoi, or guides of the dead to the underworld.

Stubby – Half

From Oedipus
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden of a Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh and Butoh.

From Oedipus
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden of a Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh and Butoh.

Character Masks
"The Trial," Write Act Rep

Soldier

Bottom
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" Write Act Rep.

Columbina and Pantalone
"A Company of Wayward Saints," Write Act Rep

Three Fat Cats

Comedy – Middle Aged Woman

Stupino in Lavender
"Stupino" is a modern addition to the Commedia Stock characters, created and developed at the Dell' Arte School of Physical Theatre, in Blue Lake, California. He/She is generally a servant. None too bright, Stupino usually has a good heart.

Zeus
Zeus is the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek mythology, who rules as king of the gods on Mount Olympus.

Comedy – Old Man

Demeter
Demeter is the Greek goddess of the harvest and agriculture, presiding over crops, grains, food, and the fertility of the earth.

From Oedipus
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden of a Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh and Butoh.

v
This production at the Classic Greek Theatre of Portland Oregon set "Oedipus" in a Zen Garden of a Mythical Thebes, blending elements of Japanese Kabuki, Noh and Butoh.

Artemis
Artemis is the Ancient Greek goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, nature, vegetation, childbirth, care of children, and chastity. She is Apollo's twin, and is identified with Selene, the personification of the Moon.

Horse

Middle Age Man – Half

Alrecchina in the Flesh

Three Cheryls

Comedy – Man 1
