Summer theater of the German National Theatre

A play by Carlo Goldoni

The merchant Pantalone would like his daughter Clarice to marry the rich Frederigo Rasponi. When he learns of Rasponi's death, however, he unceremoniously betroths Clarice to Silvio, the dottore's son. For Clarice and Silvio, who sincerely love each other, this is a happy coincidence. Then Rasponi, who was thought to be dead, appears and wants to assert his claims. His servant Truffaldino bursts into the story with him. Truffaldino, in turn, has recommended himself to Florindo, who has recently arrived, in order to increase his income and get something between his teeth, and thus becomes the notable servant of two masters. In order not to be exposed, Truffaldino now does everything to ensure that his financial backers do not meet. Chaos is pre-programmed. What the busy servant and initially no one else suspects is that Rasponi's sister Beatrice, who in turn is Florindo's mistress, is hiding in Rasponi's garb. The confusion that Truffaldino creates is thus likely to take another perplexing turn.

First performed in 1746, later also staged by Goethe here in Weimar, Carlo Goldoni's most famous stage play with its tableau of characters is considered a prime example and high point of the commedia dell'arte: brash servants and clever maids, stingy patriarchs and garrulous dottores. And in the midst of the hustle and bustle, the lovers, who first fall into misfortune through the hustle and bustle of the others before the longed-for happiness befalls them. Behind the capers of Goldoni's servants, however, there is more than just whimsy. The target is the evil machinations of corrupt nobles and miserly employers who virtually force their employees to rebel against them in tricky ways. Goldoni thus gives dignity and a human face to the servants, who until then had been shown as contemptible and worthy of ridicule. Therein lies the great power of his comedies, which have lost none of their refinement, wit and charm to this day.

Swaantje Lena Kleff, in-house director at the DNT since the 2021/2022 season and most recently associated with the audience through "A Christmas Carol", "Paarlaufen II" and "Der Sturm", will bring Goldoni's fast-paced comedy to our summer theatre stage at the e-werk weimar. Laughter absolutely desired!