THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS

Sonnet Repertory Theare, Inc.
Teatro Lateo at The Clemente Center
107 Suffolk Street, Second Floor, NY NY 10002
April 18-May 2

Adapted and Directed by Nicolas Minas
Written by Carlo Goldoni

Featuring Kareem M. Lucas, Leanne Borghesi, Brian D. Coats, Jessie Shelton, Adrian Blake Enscoe, Ronald Alexander Peet, Jeff Burchfield, and Jeff Burchfield.

Commedia Dell’Arte sounds stuffy and old-fashioned: tired, old stereotypes in tired, old situations. How delightful, then, to experience The Sonnet Repertory Theatre’s production of THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS. This adaptation by Nicolas Minas joyfully brings contemporary attitudes, language, and especially, physicality to this classic piece.

The cast is bursting with talent and creativity, singing, dancing, playing instruments and acting in broad, comedic style. It starts with the actors wandering about with the audience, stopping to chat or sing a tune, like common street/subway performers. I don’t usually enjoy audience participation, but the sense of fun was so infectious, everyone happily played along. Once the show gets going, there’s barely a moment for breath. A few of the scenes were a little messy, but so much is going on at such a breakneck speed, that the little fluffs are easily forgivable.

The entire cast is multi-talented and so much fun to watch. Especially charming was Kareem M. Lucas in the non-stop role of the sweetly conniving servant, Truffaldino; Adrian Blake Enscoe and Jessie Shelton as the overwrought ingénue lovers; and Leanne Borghesi as a modern Mae West of a lady’s maid. THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS is truly a delightful evening of theater.

- Jean Tait -