Archive: Arts & Entertainment

Aurora, New York—The Wells College department of theatre and dance presents the annual Fall Theatre Production, Carlo Goldoni’s “The Servant of Two Masters,” directed by Associate Professor of Theatre Siouxsie Easter and translated and adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher and Paolo Emilio Landi. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, October 25 and 26, in Phipps Auditorium of Macmillan Hall on the Wells College campus. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.

Originally written in 1743, Goldoni’s “The Servant of Two Masters” is a comedy centering on the actions of a quirky, insatiably hungry servant named Truffaldino as he attempts to serve the needs of and earn his dinner from two different masters, Beatrice and Florindo. Truffaldino is faced with hiding his involvement with each as they search for each other, stay in the same hotel and even eat at the same banquet. There have been several versions of “The Servant of Two Masters” written; Wells’ production is a 2004 adaptation and translation by Jeffrey Hatcher and Paolo Emilio Landi.

“Preparing for this production has been a hilarious and informative journey into the world of commedia dell'arte,” said Associate Professor of Theatre Siouxsie Easter. “The intense physical comedy that is required in the creation of these characters has left us exhausted and laughing at every rehearsal. I look forward to sharing this play with an audience.”

The play features set and lighting design by Technical Director/Facilities Manager Joe DeForest, costume design by Barbara Murphy and props by Doug Whaley ’12 and Rebecca Emmerich. The cast is made up of a number of Wells students from all current classes, and the crew for the production consists of members of Wells’ Production Practical course and work-study students with the theatre and dance department.

Professor Easter has been honored by The Theatre Association of New York State for previous productions at Wells College, including Meritorious Achievement in Directing for “Our Beds are Crowded” in 2011 and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” in 2010 as well as Excellence in Direction for “The Maids” in 2009 and “Twelfth Night” in 2007.

v9i39