I knew what I was getting into with The Servant of Two Masters, having spent enough time as a theater major to anticipate the bumbling foolery of a Truffaldino. But I'd forgotten enough about the other characters' specific roles in said foolishness to be pleasantly surprised by each actor's choices. And what a cast of characters!
First off, the Guthrie rarely disappoints in the creation of sets that perfectly support the movements onstage. But this was one of the best sets I've ever seen in the McGuire Proscenium. The use of the light and dark, sparkles and flat spaces, depth and lack-thereof, possessed a character all its own and allowed for a raucous, athletic performance by the cast.
The traditional cast of a commedia dell'arte includes a fool (a Truffaldino), a wealthy papa, a daughter who needs to get hitched, and a host of secret-keepers and secret-crafters to confuse the players and inspire enough mischief to keep the play moving. The hilarity ensues as a result of star-crossed lovers, hidden wealth, mismatched motives, and a bit of sneakiness. The cast at the Guthrie breathed life into this classic theatrical form with performances that touched on myriad modern and pop culture references (Helen Keller jokes are hilarious, much to my shock, and poking fun at Michele Bachman and the entire town of Chanhassen gets a big laugh from a Guthrie crowd).
Steven Epp, who embodies Truffaldino, gives a performance that left me giggling and exhausted-by-reference (actors are athletes, no doubt)! Allen Gilmore's Pantalone was equally astonishing in its physicality, with a particular wobbly-kneed episode leaving me slack-jawed with wonder and a solid guffaw. There was no weak link in this stellar grouping, but Truffaldino and Pantalone were the highlights for me.
I attended the play with a dear friend and over and over again we snuck glances at each other after hilarious bits, heads shaking with the oh-my-goodness of particularly surprising banter. After the stress of the day and the rush to get into our seats, sitting back and laughing, clapping, hooting along with the audience, was a welcome exercise in relaxation-by-glee.
This show was just a package of joy. And y'all have through January 20th to experience it for yourselves. Don't miss this one!
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