Carlo Goldoni’s The Servant of Two Masters is arguably his most well-known play, with translations in 30 different languages, including many English translations. So, do we really need another one? Probably not. So why do it? Good question. A possible answer is, “Because PJ Escobio asked me to.” But the most honest answer is that I wanted to see if I could. I wanted to see if I could create a translation that was informed by my 20 years of studying and performing commedia dell’arte. Most of the translations that I have come across are either a very dry literal translation, a modernization of the play, such as One Man Two Guvnors, or an adaptation of the 1947 Georgio Strehler production, which has been running for over 74 years. Goldoni wrote Servant in 1746 at the request of the famous commedia actor, Antonio Sacco (sometimes Sacchi). This early version provided many opportunities for Sacco to use his improvisational skills. Then, in 1789, Goldoni revised the play, taking out all the improvisation sections, and that is the version we have today. (It’s interesting to me that Goldoni is credited for both coining the term Commedia dell’Arte and for the demise of commedia by removing the masks and improvisations from the art form.)  While in this production, there still aren’t large swaths of improv, our approach to the text was preceded by a week-long workshop on Commedia dell’Arte. Our rehearsals were filled with play and experimentation, all informed by commedia. The result is a new and lively adaptation that honors the traditions of the past.

John Bellomo, September 2025