The Servant of Two Masters
A ROYALTY-FREE PLAY SCRIPT FROM LA COMMEDIA
Beatrice disguises herself as her dead brother Federigo, in order to collect the dowry money from his engagement to Clarice; but the dead man's "reappearance" complicates the new marriage plans of Clarice, who had moved on with another after Federigo's death. Truffaldino meanwhile hilariously navigates the chaos of trying to work for two masters (for twice the pay and twice the meals), leading to a tangled web of mistaken identities and romantic complications that ultimately culminate in the reunion of Beatrice and her lover.
by Carlo Goldoni
Translated by Edward J. Dent
[Editor's note: Dent's script included a list of songs used in the original play. However, since his script has no indications of where the tunes are meant to go, I've chosen to omit them. He listed songs by Scarlatti, Lampugnani and Galuppi as well as several anonymous pieces.]
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Pantalone dei Bisognosi, a Venetian merchant.
Clarice, his daughter.
Doctor Lombardi.
Silvio, his son.
Beatrice Rasponi, a lady of Turin, disguised as her brother
Federigo Rasponi.
Florindo Aretusi, of Turin, lover of Beatrice.
Brighella, an Innkeeper.
Smeraldina, maidservant to Clarice.
Truffaldino, servant first to Beatrice, and afterwards to Florindo.
First Waiter.
Second Waiter.
First Porter.
Second Porter.
The Scene is laid in VENICE.