On October 27th, 2016, I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to attend a performance of ‘The Servant of Two Masters’ at Queens University. The performance was directed by Greg Wanless and performed by students of Queens University in Convocation Hall. The play takes place in Venice, Italy and follows the story of four lovers, Silvio, Clarice, Beatrice and Florindo and their two servants, Smeraldina and Truffaldino. Trufaldino, a servant seeking wealth, decides that in order to increase his income he should become a servant of two masters in Venice, thus leading to mistaken identity, slapstick comedy and dramatic situations. The audience also follows the love affair of Florindo and Beatrice, otherwise known as Federigo. Beatrice,
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Due to her brothers previously betrothal to Clarice, Beatrice is caught between acting as her brother and acting as a woman. The play tends to have Beatrice and Florindo just in sight of each other but never close enough that they may find their loves, adding to the comedic nature of the performance. In my opinion, the performance had a great deal to say on social status within society. For example, Beatrice, although the only living child of her parents, is not able to collect what should be rightfully hers because of her status as a woman. Another example is the engagement between Smeraldina and Truffaldino, who must ask their masters for consent to marry, and due to the confusion as to who Truffaldino ‘belongs’ too, the couple was close …show more content…
In order to portray the Federigo portion of her performance, she had to deepen her voice and change her accent in order for the audience to be convinced she was a man, or at least understand that she was playing one. While her voice was raised so was her posture, she often walked feet first, with her head back and nose in the air, thus adding both to the characterization and the audiences perceived wealth of Federigo. While playing Beatrice, Gabbi ensured that her voice lowered to a more feminine soft tone and often whispered to the audience as though others on stage were unable to hear her. This transition between characters was quick but she did a very good job differentiating Beatrice and Federigo. Overall the performance was very well done and the audience could tell she had put much work into creating her character both physically and
Due to her brothers previously betrothal to Clarice, Beatrice is caught between acting as her brother and acting as a woman. The play tends to have Beatrice and Florindo just in sight of each other but never close enough that they may find their loves, adding to the comedic nature of the performance. In my opinion, the performance had a great deal to say on social status within society. For example, Beatrice, although the only living child of her parents, is not able to collect what should be rightfully hers because of her status as a woman. Another example is the engagement between Smeraldina and Truffaldino, who must ask their masters for consent to marry, and due to the confusion as to who Truffaldino ‘belongs’ too, the couple was close …show more content…
In order to portray the Federigo portion of her performance, she had to deepen her voice and change her accent in order for the audience to be convinced she was a man, or at least understand that she was playing one. While her voice was raised so was her posture, she often walked feet first, with her head back and nose in the air, thus adding both to the characterization and the audiences perceived wealth of Federigo. While playing Beatrice, Gabbi ensured that her voice lowered to a more feminine soft tone and often whispered to the audience as though others on stage were unable to hear her. This transition between characters was quick but she did a very good job differentiating Beatrice and Federigo. Overall the performance was very well done and the audience could tell she had put much work into creating her character both physically and