You'll be laughing all night

If you are looking for a bright, colourful and fun night out based on an eighteenth century Venetian comedy sprinkled with well-known popular songs and live music then Carlo Goldini’s The Servant of Two Masters (translated by Stephen Mulrine) is your theatre ticket to grab with both hands.

But grab them quickly because, like many Lace Market Theatre productions, this one looks like selling out pretty darn quick and only runs until Saturday.

Directors, Jae and Neil Marriott ensure that the action is fast paced and that the chaotic confusions serve to amuse not confuse. The language is contemporary. Including a musical threesome, the cast is twelve strong and the young women in the cast are particularly good, all of them bringing a clowning physicality to the piece. Jennifer White is especially good as Beatrice Rasponi disguised as her dead brother Frederico. When Alessia Molteni, Glenda Plumari, Natasha Szymanki, Rosie Wallace and the aforementioned Jennifer White pick up the play’s pace with their mad antics and songs the play really starts to sing.

Konrad Skubis makes a fine and energetic Truffaldino, Christopher Collins convincingly plays the fierce tempered love interest buffoon Silvio, Roger Newman proves himself an amusing and solid father figure with his Pantalone and Arnd Korn plays the second master Florindo with a comic lightness of touch.

The production allows the cast to improvise and ask for name suggestions from the audience. It will be interesting to see how this aspect pans out when the production shows in Karlsruhe at Easter when it goes there as part of a theatre twinning event. This version also has the premise of being performed by a troupe of circus types who find themselves having to cover for the real actors who haven’t turned up on the night and, occasionally, they include the stage manager and prompt when things get tricky, much to the audience's delight.

At just under three hours including interval you certainly get plenty of fun for your money.

"A Servant of Two Masters" by Carlo Goldini
Nottingham Lace Market Theatre

Most people will know the storyline from the play “One Man Two Guvnors”, the play that launched James Corden’s career on stage. This story is adapted from the original, and the story that "One Man" is taken from.

The play opens with the introduction of Beatrice, a woman who has travelled to Venice disguised as her dead brother in search of the man who killed him, Florindo, who is also her lover. Her brother forbade her to marry Florindo, and died defending his sister's honour.

Beatrice disguises herself as Federigo (her dead brother) so that he can collect dowry money from Pantalone, the father of Clarice, her brother's betrothed. She wants to use this money to help her lover escape, and to allow them to finally wed. But thinking that Beatrice's brother was dead, Clarice has fallen in love with another man, Silvio, and the two have become engaged. Interested in keeping up appearances.

Beatrice's servant, Truffaldino, is the central figure. He is always complaining of an empty stomach and when the opportunity presents itself to be servant to another master, Florindo, he sees the opportunity for an extra dinner.

As Truffaldino runs around Venice trying to fill the orders of two masters, he is almost found out several times. To further complicate matters, Beatrice and Florindo are staying in the same hotel, and are searching for each other.

And that is just half the story!

This is one of the craziest and fun plays I've had the pleasure of seeing and something very different for the Lace Market Theatre. There is a live quartet and clever insertion of popular music to reflect the situations in the play.

Konrad Skubis plays Truffaldino,and a new name to me. Played very different to the Francis Henshall character of "One Man" although there is still plenty of physical comedy in this show, and all done with a smile and a twinkle of the eye.

Jen White (Beatrice) makes the change from "she" to "he" with just a tucking in of a skirt and a permanent marker moustache. Completely unrecognisable! Great fun role to watch, and I'm sure to play.

Arnd Korn (Florindo) delivers yet again as the second of the two masters and brings quite a British sense of humour to the show's mayhem.

Roger Newman (Pantalone) brings a dollop of Cockney humour to this role,and we also get to hear him singing one of my favourite Chas 'n' Dave songs before the show.

Chris Collins (Silvio) also gets to air some vocals - I knew I'd get to hear him sing again - and also delivers another hidden skill, plate-spinning. How many hidden talents can one man have?

Glenda Plumari (Clarice) is superb at playing a spoilt brat who can't get what she wants, and at getting what she doesn't want, as in Federigo.

Natasha Szymanski (Smeraldina) and Alessia Molteni (Dr Lombardi) both turn in wonderfully fun performances, consistent with the rest of the very talented cast.

Rosie Wallace (Brighella) also gets to air her vocals in a zany version of a Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin song, along with the cast.

Directed by Jae and Neil Marriott, they have added the equivalent of pinches of spice to this script, and just a few spicy bits, if you keep your eyes open! The addition of the modern pop classics also add another layer of fun to the production. That and the use of the whole theatre and auditorium make sure that you have your eyes and ears open at all times, so as not to miss any entrances and exits. Some of the comedy sections are completely unexpected. Let me just say "pizza"!

Lighting Design is by Phil Anthony and Sound Design by Jack Harris. Both wonderfully executed to the maximum effect.

Jane Herring’s costume choices are inspired and immense fun. Go and see what I mean! The phrase "an explosion in a paint factory" comes to mind, but in a very good way.

Musical Director is Neil Marriott and also is part of the quartet providing the music along with Mark James, Arnd Korn and Gareth Morris. My tip is to get there early enough to hear the music selection that is performed before the show starts as this will get you in the mood for this euphoric piece of theatre. There's also face painting and balloon modelling and street artists to entertain you even before you take your seats.

Listening to the reaction from the vacating audience members, they all loved this show and were full of happy chat. They obviously had the same feelings about this brilliant play with music as I did.

If you are feeling just a bit down. This show will be your medicine and will instantly lift you out of the doldrums. And I can almost guarantee you singing "Buona Sera" for days afterwards, as I know I will.

Read the original article here.

Ani Raiden

25 Feb 20

Such fun. We loved it.

Darren Wheatley

25 Feb 20

It was really fantastic. I really enjoyed every aspect of the performance.

James Whitby

28 Feb 20

Very well done to all for Servant. Great performances, great band, and as a big popular music fan good song choices. Good luck for the rest of the run.

Jill Edmonds

28 Feb 20

It was amazing! Well done cast and Jae and Neil of course!!!

Kathryn Edwards

29 Feb 20

Saw this last night. You were all amazing. I was the one at the front howling with laughter most of the way through. Such fun!

Ann Thomas

29 Feb 20

A servant of two masters. We thoroughly enjoyed last night's performance.

Claire Jenkins

29 Feb 20

I am in awe of your commitment. Loved the play last night.

Paddy Signorini

29 Feb 20

Well done, all your hard work has certainly paid off, thank's for giving me a delightlful afternoon's entertainment.

Lynn Collins

29 Feb 20

You were all amazing. I was apprehensive as I'm not the sort that can sit still that long normally, but time flew. It was funny, slcik and a good yard.

Robin Fisher

1 Mar 20

You were all brilliant, passionate and very entertaining. Thank you so much for giving us such a wonderful show tonight. Loved it!

@MrJDexter

28 Feb 20

Those great reviews thoroughly deserved. Wonderful evening TY @LMTheatre