‘A Servant of Two Masters’
by Carlo Goldoni
Enhancing core teaching, this fast-paced workshop engages students physically with the text. Ideal for:
Introducing the text
Embedding character studies
Focusing on stylistic and comic features
Historical context
Pre-exam revision
“Excellent workshop, actively exciting our students who are now able to refer to stock characters with ease showing meaningful understanding of their character traits.”
“An AMAZING online workshop from Cheryl Stapleton - teaching my students about all the characters from Servant, demonstrating their voices, physicality and giving contextual details. I can 100% recommend booking her for a group Zoom session with your students ...”
Level:
KS4 to Degree level
Duration:
Online: 1 hour / 2 hours / 5 x 1 hour workshop series In person: 2 -6 hours
Participants will learn:
the historical context of the play and the characters
how to perform the stock character types and how Goldoni has adapted them within this play
how an actor can interpret the characters for performance
how comedy can be created in key scenes through character partnerships, physicality, language and comic lazzi (physical gags)
performance skills specific to comedy and the need to interact with the audience
Online workshops:
The physicality of the characters will be demonstrated and discussed inviting participants to join in. This enables learners to understand the comic contrasts and typical behaviours of the stock characters, relating to the Commedia dell' Arte types: Zanni (Truffaldino, Smeraldina, Brighella, porter and waiters); Il Vecchi (Pantalone, Dr Lombardi); l’Innamorati (Clarice, Silvio, Beatrice, Florindo). Masks will be demonstrated and discussed.
In 1 hour, some of the main characters can be explored and discussed (Truffaldino, Smeraldina, Beatrice and Florindo). In 2 hours, all characters can be covered with an exploration of specific scenes and lazzi (physical gags). In a 5 x 1 hour series, we can examine key sequences and scenes in a practical way, allowing the characters to leap from the page so that the comedy can be seen, heard and experienced.
Students are encouraged to verbalise what they are doing physically and to direct the facilitator, so that they can develop the language needed for writing at greater depth and develop a deeper appreciation of how to create comedy.
In person workshops:
For an intense participatory session, it is best to book a workshop that takes place in the classroom, with social distancing and infection control measures.
The physicality of the characters is our starting point again, to understand the comic contrasts and typical behaviours. Greater practical study is possible and in three hours, several of the main characters can be explored through improvised scenes. It is not essential to have learnt any of the text; improvisations will be initiated based on key scenes so that the comic potential and characterisation is our focus. Initially, we will look at Truffaldino and how he plays out being a servant of two masters, examining the comedy through physicality, language and lazzi (physical comic gags). Scenes with Pantalone and Doctor Lombardi will be improvised to highlight the comedy of contrasts between the characterisations of these old men (Vecchi). The comedy in the relationship of the young Lovers (Innamorati), Silvio and Clarice, will also be accentuated through the exploration of heightened gesture, movement, voice and emotions. (N.B. different characters can be selected for the focus)
This workshop can also be adapted to the study of ‘One Man Two Guvnors’.
We examine key sequences and scenes in a practical way, allowing the characters to leap from the page so that the comedy can be seen, heard and experienced.
Students are encouraged to verbalise what they are doing physically and to direct the facilitator, so that they can develop the language needed for writing at greater depth and develop a deeper appreciation of how to create comedy.