The Parkerville Steiner College Class 9 students worked tirelessly on their Drama Main Lesson play The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni, which will culminate in a matinee and evening performance at the Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre this coming Thursday. It was an absolute pleasure to have the opportunity to work with a creative, friendly and enthusiastic group of young people on a comedy, exploring the slapstick genre, comical movement and quick repartee of dialogue. The play was written in 1746 with large sections of the play structured to accommodate improvisation, however, Goldoni revised the play in 1789 and is the version that stands today, this version for purposes of an educational context has been edited.

The play is a comedy featuring some of the classic stock characters from the Italian comedic form, Commedia Dell ‘Arte and is a wonderful example of physical buffoonery, mistaken identity and love interests that too easily go awry. Set in Venice in the mid 1700’s, the ever-hungry servant Truffaldino gets himself into a pickle when he decides to serve two masters at the same time in the hope that he can double his income and food intake! The ensuing complications and misunderstandings create a rollicking plot line which like all good romantic comedies, ends happily with all couples reunited. The Class 9 students stepped into their character roles and managed the demands of quick stage action, dialogue and embodying the distinct stock character types in addition to supplying music and instrumental sound effects.

All plays at PSC are generously supported by a raft of creative and inspirational teachers, teacher assistants and contracted individuals, the support team of creatives on this production whose outstanding contributions to the play gave the production finesse and imagination, much gratitude to Janice Still- costumes, Simon Griffiths – set construction, Katina Bay- music, Class 9 Teacher Assistant, Michaela Sherry and backstage assistance from Katie Turner. And of course, acknowledgement of the Class 9 students for their creative contributions and tenacity during the building of the play which culminated in a memorable production.