Classic Comedy in the Round

“It’s not easy, is it, being the servant to two masters!” A valid sentiment expressed and demonstrated in CSDC’s production The Servant of Two Masters, opening this weekend (Feb 24).

The delightful script is a classic commedia dell-arte piece, reworked by director Robert Gonzalez. “Commedia dell’arte is a larger-than-life style of theatre that feels almost like improv most of the time,” he tells us. “Like anything can, and may, happen.”

Kenzie Oviedo, who plays Truffaldino, enjoys the style of the show and thoroughly enjoys her character. “I consider myself a dork,” she says, “so I feel like that role fits me well. He’s very dramatic and comical.” She describes him as very much like Shaggy from Scooby Doo: “the fool – the jester – he acts like he knows what he’s doing, but he really doesn’t.”

Another unique aspect of this production is that it is being performed “in the round,” meaning the audience is on all sides of the stage area. CSDC ventured into this territory once before with our 2021 production of Twelve Angry Jurors. “I really wanted the audience to feel like they are a part of the show and involved in the action,” says Gonzalez. “The characters directly interact with the audience, and there’s always something special for actors when the audience directly responds to the performance.”

The storyline may be familiar to fans of James Corden who have seen him star in an English adaptation of the play entitled One Man, Two Guvnors.

As a drama teacher currently directing shows at two different locations, Gonzalez says he personally relates to the challenges of being a "servant of two masters" – and he believes everyone struggles with this in some capacity. “But we do the best we can, make the most of the time we have, share the fun with those around us, and hope that all the work pays off in the end!”

Purchase your tickets now for The Servant of Two Masters, performing February 24-25 and March 3-5.