Read the SAMPLE below carefully.
Highlight it:
Colour 1 = References to historic/ social play knowledge
Colour 2 = Specific examples of acting or direction
This writing below came from a Y12 student in their 1st attempt at writing about So2M. This is a great example of clear, concise (no waffle) writing with historical and social knowledge coming naturally from the analysis. There is an obvious knowledge of theatrical terms like stage directions, physicality and conventions like the aside. The only area for improvement would be to use a lot more quotes to hang ideas onto specific moment of the play.
The question they had was:
How would you direct the first two scenes of Servant of Two Masters?
For the very opening of the play in Act 1 scene 1 when Silvio and Clarice are about to be engaged, I would have the two Lovers center stage looking at each-other, they are holding hands and are as close to each-other as they can be: this is to emphasize the intimacy and the genuine love they have for each-other. This will also be underlined through their speech. Often they will clock the audience to show that they wish to express their love to the whole world. I would place them center stage so the audience can understand that the focus of the scene is on these two characters, however they are not down stage center, The reason for this will come later in the scene. As for how the two will act, I would direct them to use an overly-dramatized style of delivery. This would involve large hand and arm gestures that are balletic and return to the heart. Their speech would be breathy to indicate they are feeling strong passions and well articulated to indicate their high level of education, This will invoke some comedy in the audience as is the aim of Commedia dell’arte, but also shows that the love these two have is genuine. It will also work in contrast later on in Act 2 when they hate the sight of one another. Since they are not masked I would expect big facial expressions from them, one would react with glee when the other speaks for instance.[Quote needed] The two will follow similar traits: Silvio would not (in this scene) act masculine, he too will be like Clarice in a floating joyful, gentle, innocent manner, this will show the audience that the two really work as a pair.
In terms of staging for other characters in Act 1 Scene 1 I will focus on proxemics and the other characters will be stationed according to their relationship with the two lovers. Pantaloon will be by the side of his daughter and Lombardi will be at the side of his son. This will help establish information as to the relationships with each character to the audience even before there is dialogue. Brighella would be downstage left on the Pantaloon side and Smeraldina will be down stage right on the Lombardi side. If you looked at the stage from a birds eye-view it would resemble a triangle with the two servants at the bottom moving up to the masters and the lovers at the top. Even though Brighella isn’t a servant in this play in normal Commedia he is and so I wanted to hearken back to that idea. He is a friend of Pantaloon however so that is why he is on the brides’ side to show his connection to the Pantaloon household. Smeraldina is a servant to Pantaloon as well however she is on Lombardi’s side in down stage right because that is the furthest point from Clarice, this shows discord between master and servant between Smeraldina and Clarice, the two still like each-other but in the context of this scene Smeraldina is envious of Clarice love. Downstage right is also a good position for Smeraldina to break the fourth wall which I intend her to do when she speaks much like an aside where only the audience can hear. If I had an extended cast I would also have one extra member playing a Zanni like servant giving drinks to Pantaloon, Lombardi and Brighella but not Smeraldina to underline that she is not considered an important individual to serve. A Zanni character would also hearken back to original Commedia dell’arte.
Example: How would you direct the first two scenes of Servant of Two Masters?
For the very opening of the play in Act 1 scene 1 when Silvio and Clarice are about to be engaged, I would have the two Lovers center stage looking at each-other, they are holding hands and are as close to each-other as they can be: this is to emphasize the intimacy and the genuine love they have for each-other. This will also be underlined through their speech. Often they will clock the audience to show that they wish to express their love to the whole world. I would place them center stage so the audience can understand that the focus of the scene is on these two characters, however they are not down stage center, The reason for this will come later in the scene. As for how the two will act, I would direct them to use an overly-dramatized style of delivery. This would involve large hand and arm gestures that are balletic and return to the heart. Their speech would be breathy to indicate they are feeling strong passions and well articulated to indicate their high level of education. This will invoke some comedy in the audience as is the aim of Commedia dell’arte, but also shows that the love these two have is genuine. It will also work in contrast later on in Act 2 when they hate the sight of one another. Since they are not masked I would expect big facial expressions from them, one would react with glee when the other speaks for instance.[Quote needed] The two will follow similar traits: Silvio would not (in this scene) act masculine, he too will be like Clarice in a floating joyful, gentle, innocent manner. This will show the audience that the two really work as a pair.
