We will explore Smeraldina ahead of acting out some key scenes next lesson.

Read and add to your notes about Smeraldina:

• List the scenes she is most prominent in. (plot summary)
• commentaries (the short 3 paragraph section about her character.
  • Watch the clips below and add to your notes
• form your own opinions /imagine your own virtual performance

Where does Smeraldina appear and what does she do.?

Act 1

• Scene 1 – S. she listens to others, comments to audience, answers door (establishes her role, attitude)
• Scene 2 – S.meets Truff, plays it cool, reveals she might be interest
• Scene 12 – Announces arrival of Federigo to Clarice

Act 2

• Scene 5 – Stops Clarice from from killing herself, turns on Silvio and has speech about ‘position of women in society’
• Scene 13 – Outside Brighella’s inn – running a message, chatted up by waiter, she dismisses him
• Scene 14 – Flirtation with Truff.
• Scene 15 – Trying to read a letter with Truff- shows she illiterate

Act 3

• Scene 12 – Encourages Clarice to make up with Silvio
• Scene 14 – S. says she’d like to get married, though she has no one in  mind.
• Scene 15 – S. ask Clarice for permission to ask Beatrice to release Truff. so that he can marry her. Finally Truff asks S. to marry him.

Commentary notes:

Stock type: female servant (servetta) Soemtimes known as Columbine. Did not wear a mask. Costume: apron, dress, low cut blouse

Goldoni ‘interested’ and ‘promoted’ this part! WHY?

Personality: outspoken, sharp, perceptive (sees the world as it is), observant, wants to be married, motherly(?) towards Clarice (female mentor?)

Knows her place but doesn’t like it.

Not afraid to speak her mind (even in front of her boss – Pantaloon)

Didi Hopkins says in her Characters video:

She has aspects of all 4 of the MAIN MASKS

She’s good with money (Pantalone) – able to debate and argue (Doctore) – playful and flirtatious (Harlequin) and cunning (Brighella)

Video: Servant of Two Masters: Commedia Character Shorts-Lesson Six: Smeraldina

Watch clip from 0:40

Watch from 3:40 for Smeraldina’s scene with Silvio.