Goldoni’s eighteenth-century comic masterpiece is a madcap farce of love, passion, and mistaken identity. The play begins in Venice at the engagement party of Clarice and Silvio. Clarice had previously been engaged to Federigo Rasponi–an unwanted engagement that was arranged by her father. But, fortunately for Clarice, Rasponi was killed in a duel freeing her to marry her true love. That is until a half-witted servant arrives with the shocking news that his master, Federigo Rasponi, isn’t dead at all, but in Venice seeking to reclaim his rightful bride. This event kicks off a series of mix-ups and calamities that entangles everyone in the play including the foolish servant who is hired by two masters and creates havoc trying to please them both while keeping them secret from one another. The play is inspired by the Italian Renaissance masked theater of Commedia dell’Arte and this new adaptation relishes in all of the mishaps, confusions, disguises, and physical comedy associated with the style.
