Carlo Goldoni’s hilarious play, adapted and translated by Jeffrey Hatcher and Paolo Emilio Landi, “The Servant of Two Masters” is being presented by Saint Patrick High School November 2-4, 2007.  

Florindo has killed Beatrice’s brother, Federigo, and run off to Venice. Beatrice does what any woman might do in this situation; she dresses in her brother’s clothes and travels to Venice to find Florindo. Truffaldino, unaware that Beatrice is a woman or that she is looking for Florindo, agrees to serve both Beatrice and Florindo- so he can collect both paychecks. Confusion begins when Beatrice interrupts the wedding party of her brother’s former fiancée, Clarice, and her new love, Silvio. Truffaldino, merely wanting to get a good meal, goes on a roller coaster of mistaken identities, naïve young lovers, and foolish and meddling fathers that have him juggling meatballs to keep his masters from discovering him.

 “The Servant of Two Masters” is a comedy from the Italian Renaissance that uses stock characters-such as the greedy, old man and the innocent, young lovers- to tell its story. A precursor to sketch comedy groups like Second City or Saturday Night Live, this style relies on the actor’s physical comedy skills and virtuosity with language. This adaptation draws from both the Renaissance and vaudevillian humor to provide a modern take on a famously funny story that allows us to laugh at ourselves as we laugh with the actors.

The production team includes Geoffrey Arndt, director, Rebecca Hamlin, set designer, John Sanchez, lighting designer, Tristan Tom, costume designer, Karl Sullivan, technical director and Darek Jakubowski, stage manager. The cast includes Mark Alvord, Dominic Clemente, Jr., Cassie Habert, Margaret Keating, Christian Ketter, Kira Mosthof, TJ Nicol, Austin O’Brien, Jack O’Brien, Luis Paneque, Michael Petrarca, and Jeremy Schultz.

“The Servant of Two Masters” opens Friday, November 2 and runs through Sunday, November 4.  Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m., and the Sunday matinee starts at 2:00 p.m.  All shows will be performed at the Saint Patrick Performing Arts Centre, located at 5900 W. Belmont Avenue.  Tickets are $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for students.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.stpatrick.org, or by phoning the box office at 773.286.8470.  Group rates are available.