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Age recommendation: Carlo Goldoni’s crazy 18th-century farce is rich in physical comedy and clever dialogue and is suitable for ages 6 and up. Familiarity with the traditional characters and situations of classic commedia isn’t necessary for a good time, but it may add to young theatregoers' enjoyment.

Please note: Children under 6 are not admitted to plays or other events.

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Synopsis: In Venice, a celebration of the engagement of Pantalone’s daughter, Clarice, to Silvio is in progress. A servant, Truffaldino interrupts the festivities to announce the arrival of his master, Federigo Rasponi. This shocks everybody: They thought Federigo had been killed in a duel with his sister’s lover, Florindo. Clarice originally had been promised to marry Federigo. But this “Federigo” is actually his sister, Beatrice, disguised. She has come to claim the dowry that Pantalone owes her brother for marrying Clarice so that she can join Florindo. (Her brother had challenged Florindo to a duel because he didn’t feel the suitor was worthy enough.)

Pantalone feels obligated to uphold his original contract with Federigo. Despite Silvio and Clarice’s protests, their wedding is off. But Silvio refuses to give up Clarice. Meanwhile, Truffaldino has fallen for Smeraldina, Pantalone’s servant.

Truffaldino is next seen on the street, bemoaning his empty belly. Florindo arrives, having fled Turin after killing Federigo. He offers a job as his manservant to Truffaldino, who accepts, envisioning a doubled income. Here’s where the fun begins. Both of Truffaldino’s masters—Florindo and the disguised Beatrice—send him to the post office to check for their mail. Truffaldino retrieves the letters, but because he can’t read, mixes them up. He gives the letters for Beatrice to Florindo, who, upon learning his love is in town, heads out to find her.

Meanwhile, Beatrice tells the distraught Clarice that she is not Federigo, but his sister. Delighted, Clarice agrees to keep the secret. Outside the house, Pantalone informs Silvio and his father that the wedding between his daughter and Federigo is still on. Silvio attacks Pantalone, but Beatrice disarms him. Silvio doesn’t believe Clarice still loves him, despite her assurances, and goes to seek vengeance against Federigo and Pantalone.

At Brighella’s inn, each of Truffaldino’s masters orders him to arrange for their meals. The servant arranges the tables to keep them separate, and with a waiter’s help, he succeeds, barely, at getting them fed. Finally, he sits down to eat his own dinner.

Outside the inn, Smeraldina and Truffaldino try to decipher the contents of Clarice’s letter for Beatrice. Beatrice sees them with her opened letter and beats Truffaldino. Florindo sees him being beaten and rewards him with another beating.

Truffaldino improvises to keep both masters satisfied, but his lie leads Florindo and Beatrice to conclude the other is dead. The despairing lovers arrive at the same location to take their own lives. Delighted to rediscover each other, they plan their happy futures. But first, they want to know who is responsible for their near-fatal misunderstanding?

Brighella enters with Truffaldino, who quickly improvises a story that puts the blame on a fictitious servant named Pasquale. A double wedding is set: Silvio and Clarice, and Florindo and Beatrice. Florindo asks Pantalone’s permission for Truffaldino to marry Smeraldina. Clarice interrupts and says she has already promised Smeraldina to Beatrice’s servant. In order to marry Smeraldina, Truffaldino pleads guilty to being the servant of two masters.—Daniel Passer