Il Servitore Di Due Padroni
Classici Italiani
📘 About This Book
Composta nel 1745 su richiesta del celebre attore Antonio Sacchi, la commedia Il servitore di due padroni fu rappresentata a Milano e a Venezia nel 1746 con grande successo. Il Goldoni, che nella prima stesura si era servito di un canovaccio francese inviatogli dallo stesso Sacchi (forse Arlequin valet de deux maîtres di J. Pierre de Mandajors), la riscrisse interamente nel 1753 per l'edizione Paperini. La fortuna di questa commedia dal '700 ad oggi è stata ininterrotta. Alla sua diffusione ai nostri giorni ha contribuito il Piccolo Teatro di Milano, sotto la regia di G. Strehler, col titolo mutato in Arlecchino servitore di due padroni. Tutta la vicenda è incentrata sul personaggio di Truffaldino.
📖 Summary
Il Servitore Di Due Padroni stands as a timeless masterpiece of theatrical comedy, written by the celebrated playwright Carlo Goldoni. Originally composed in 1745 at the specific request of the renowned actor Antonio Sacchi, the play was brought to the stage in Milan and Venice in 1746, where it achieved an immediate and overwhelming success. In its genesis, Goldoni utilized a French scenario or outline sent to him by Sacchi, which may have been inspired by earlier French works of the era. Recognizing the enduring potential of the material, Goldoni later undertook the task of completely rewriting the comedy for the Paperini edition in 1753, cementing its literary and dramatic structure into the form best known to readers today. From the eighteenth century down to the present day, the fortune of this sparkling comedy has remained completely uninterrupted, captivating audiences across generations with its wit, intricate plotting, and brilliant character work. A monumental contribution to the modern dissemination and global fame of the play in contemporary times came from the Piccolo Teatro di Milano, under the visionary theatrical direction of Giorgio Strehler. Under Strehler's guidance, the production was famously restaged with the slightly modified title Arlecchino servitore di due padroni, breathing new life into the physical comedy and commedia dell'arte traditions embedded within the text. At the very center of the entire narrative whirl is the unforgettable character of Truffaldino, whose cunning, hunger, and chaotic cleverness drive the comedic complications forward. Truffaldino creates a mountain of hilarious troubles for himself by secretly entering the service of two distinct masters at the exact same time, leading to a relentless sequence of mistaken identities, frantic timing, crossed letters, and near-misses at dinner tables. As Truffaldino attempts to serve both masters simultaneously without either discovering the double-dealing, the play explores themes of social survival, class cunning, and human adaptability through the lens of pure farce. The rich heritage of the play connects the traditional improvised masks of Italian commedia dell'arte with Goldoni's drive for theatrical reform, showcasing realistic human behaviors masked beneath traditional comedic tropes. Readers engaging with this 2019 publication of the text will find themselves immersed in a foundational pillar of European dramatic literature that continues to entertain, provoke laughter, and demonstrate the genius of classic Italian playwriting.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Features brilliant and enduring comedic timing driven by the central character.
Represents a crucial milestone in the evolution of Italian theatrical history.
Exhibits Goldoni's masterly skill in reforming traditional commedia dell'arte.
Provides continuous entertainment and literary value that has lasted for centuries.
⚠️ Cons
Being a dramatic script rather than a traditional narrative novel, it requires active visualization.
The concise page count offers a brief reading experience that leaves room for wanting more background.
❓ FAQ
Who is the author of Il Servitore Di Due Padroni? +
The book was written by the celebrated playwright Carlo Goldoni.
When was the play originally composed and first performed? +
It was composed in 1745 and first performed in Milan and Venice in 1746.
Who inspired Goldoni to write the original version of the play? +
The famous actor Antonio Sacchi requested the comedy and provided a French scenario for it.
When did Goldoni rewrite the play completely? +
Goldoni rewrote the entire play in 1753 for the Paperini edition.
Which theater company and director helped popularize the play in modern times? +
The Piccolo Teatro di Milano, under the direction of G. Strehler, contributed greatly to its modern fame.
