The Servant of Two Masters – Digital Resource

Digital Performance & Resource Pack

Winner:
2020 Drama Victoria Award for
Excellence in Digital/Online Delivery of Drama (Industry)

ORIGINAL STORY Carlo Goldoni
DIRECTOR, TRANSLATOR & ADAPTOR Rosa Campagnaro
SET & COSTUME DESIGN Eloise Kent
VIDEOGRAPHER Phill Speers

WITH
Christian Bagin

Sharon Davis
Irene del Pilar
Roby Favretto
Lelda Kapsis
Darcy Kent
Freya Pragt

Campagnaro has brought this period costume classic into a theatrical world that’s swift, dynamic and larger-than-life.

– Cameron Woodhead, The Age

A hungry servant bites off more than he can chew when he agrees to serve two masters at the same time! Watch this calamitous comedy unfold as he skids and schemes his way through multiple beatings, mistaken identity, and love gone awry on the elite streets of Venice.

Goldoni’s magnificent comedy of misunderstandings, cross dressing and aristocratic decadence has been recontextualised into the 21st Century. Featuring non-naturalistic conventions including use of mask, stylised physical comedy, slapstick, exaggerated movement and audience interaction.

This adaptation maintains the 16th Century spirit of play, parody and grotesque archetypes. The design is inspired by traditional elements such as exaggerated and stylised make-up, wigs and costumes. Don’t miss this opportunity to see traditional Commedia dell’Arte masks in action!

Production images by Lisa Businovski.

The Deal

Price: $110.00 (inc GST) for 30 students or less
Extra students: $2.20 (inc GST)

Resources included:

  • Access to view the recording of our 2016 La Mama Theatre Season of The Servant of Two Masters.
  • Access to view our Drama Victoria Award-winning Development Documentary for The Servant of Two Masters (view the trailer here).
  • Teachers’ resources for the study of the play – perfect for Drama and/or Theatre Studies!

Hungry for more?

Homemade Comedy Teachers’ Resource: $60 + GST
14 comprehensive lesson plans in comedy, slapstick and Commedia dell’Arte.

Virtual Q&A: $50 + GST
A 30-40 minute Q&A with playwright and director, Rosa Campagnaro.

Playscript: $23.99 inc. GST
To purchase an ebook or hard copy of the playscript for this adaptation, visit Currency Press.

The Servant Of Two Masters contains mature themes.
Make A Scene recommends it for mature students.

  • Truffaldino improvises in a wordplay lazzo, saying “Brighella’s foreskin”.
  • Smeraldina gives instructions for re-sealing the letter in a suggestive manner.
  • Smeraldina makes a speech about the differences between genders.
  • Florindo’s money pouch hangs from his groin and Truffaldino “pulls it off”.
  • Truffaldino flirts with Smeraldina. He stares at her cleavage and then mentions “genital warts”.
  • In despair, The Lovers toy with suicide; this tension is quickly broken with Brighella’s comic line, “Don’t get blood on the carpet.”