in Italian Commedia dell'arte , a somewhat improvised, comedic form of travellingtheatre consisting of various stock characters including Arlecchino , Colombina , Pantalone , and Pulcinella . The plot of theHarlequinade was relatively simple; the star-crossed lovers, Harlequin and Columbine, run away fromColumbine's father, Pantaloon, who is being slowed down in