Servant of two masters

Wanna hear my story of the month?

Okay, so when the Bell Shakespeare Company comes to Canberra (and possibly any major city), they do a "meet the company" thing where the cast and director give a presentation to anyone who turns up at the theatre about the production they're doing and then they answer some questions and have a meet-and-greet in the foyer afterwards. The Bowen family turned up to this, 'cause we're all interested in theatre and stuff, and after the presentation we're standing around when one of the actors came up and had a chat. He was a little guy called Arky Michael, who's playing Brighella (the innkeeper), and was extremely friendly and charming. He asked whether we were coming to the show, to which mum and dad replied "yes" (they saw it tonight) and Cal and I responded that while we wished to see the show, we were not exactly flushed for cash. And so Arky said, essentially; "I don't know anyone in Canberra and I've got two comps for opening night, do you want them?"

What a guy! Not only did we get comps for opening night, but we also got an invite into the after-show reception with free booze (Coopers Pale as well as wine and champagne, no less) and food, and another chance to chat to the actors. All in all, an entertaining evening, and one we wouldn't have had the chance to enjoy were it not for one generous little guy. Cal and I brought him a bottle of wine to say thanks, but had to leave it with the stage manager, 'coz he didn't really hang around very long.

And the show? Hilarious. Ribald. I haven't laughed so hard with a show in ages. In fact, I genuinely had tears running down my cheeks and aching sides. The basic story is that Truffaldino - a poor servant - is hungry and desperate. So hungry is he, that he ends up taking on two masters at the same time - hence the title. Of course, one of his masters is a woman in disguise - Beatrice. She's in search of her lover who has had to flee to Venice because he killed her brother in a duel (her bro' didn't agree with their wooing). Can ye guess who his second master is? That's right, the lover - Florindo. There are, of course, many other amusing events and confusions, but the main point is that Truffaldino ends up running himself ragged trying to please both of his masters. He even - in an excellently-choreographed scene - ends up having to serve his two masters dinner at the same time. There is much vulgar and hilarious phsyical humour, as well as pop-culture gags and quick tongues. Doctore Lombardi's delivery was excellents and Pantalone's servant Smeraldina was both exceedingly cute and exceedingly funny.

Meeting the cast after was awesome, also. The young lady who plays Clarice (find a plot breakdown or something) was especially cool and interesting to talk to, as was the man who plays Doctore (and was the butcher in the trim lamb ads :) ). Basically, it was one of the best theatre experiences I have ever had.

Four things I have learned recently;

1. Sometimes people just do amazingly cool things for no reason or reward.


2. A mixed CD popular with the entire staff is a beautiful thing.


3. The Skeewiff re-mix of Man Of Constant Sorrow never gets old.


4. In B5, Byron is truly no substitute for Marcus. Not even a little bit.

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"Think of my children."
"You don't have any children."
"Some day I might."
- Benny and O'Connel, The Mummy