Antonio Collalto (dramatist)
Antonio Collalto was an Italian actor and writer, mainly of comedies in Commedia dell'arte style.
Collalto was born in Florence. As a young man, he was a soldier, but he afterwards became an actor, often playing the masked role of Pantalone. He also wrote many plays for his theater including il Pantalone avaro ; il Pantalone ringiovanito ; la Famiglia in Discordia ; il Pantalone padre severo ; il Ritorno il'Argentina ; and finally Tre gemelli veneziani ; in four acts from 1775. This latter comedy was very popular and was translated into French. Collalto would play the parts of all three twins. He was applauded as a comedic actor for Italian plays in Paris.
