Act 1 Presents the Classic Comedy “The Servant of Two Masters”

From Left: Emily Giessmann as Beatrice, India Profitt as Truffaldino, and Noah Schnabel as Florindo in Act 1’s production of “The Servant of Two Masters.” Photo by Jack Lerch.

Act 1 DeSales University Theatre will present a classic comedy, Carlo Goldoni’s “The Servant of Two Masters,” opening Thursday, Oct. 10. The show will run until Sunday, Oct. 20, in the Schubert Theatre of the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts.

Truffaldino, a servant obsessed with personal hunger and well-being, seizes an opportunity to possibly earn an extra dinner by becoming servant to a second master in this 1789 Italian comedy. Attempting to keep both masters ignorant to the plan, Truffaldino tends to them both, including serving both parties at a banquet, all while trying to have a meal. 

Filled with mistaken identities, lost loves, a sword fight, and the inevitable letter and payment mix-ups, the play is an enjoyable classic farce inspired by the Italian commedia dell'arte.  

“This play is a gift to actors and audiences alike. The actors love imbuing these characters and scenes with creativity and heart, and the audience will delight in the story and the characters they encounter.” 

 Jason King Jones, director and adaptor of the play

Jason King Jones is the artistic director of the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. Previously, he spent 10 years at Maryland’s Olney Theatre Center, where he served as senior associate artistic director and artistic director of National Players, America’s longest-running touring theatre company. Jones has directed over 75 productions, mentored hundreds of early-career theatre makers, and established various in-school and summer educational programs. 

Sandra Lopez is the scenic designer, and Rebecca Callan serves as costume designer. The lighting is designed by DeSales theatre major Anja Thomas, and Jonathan Cannon is the sound designer. Eli Lynn is the fight director.

“The Servant of Two Masters” opens on Thursday, Oct. 10, and runs through Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, at 2:00 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $23 for adults and $21 for students and seniors Wednesday through Friday, and $25 for adults and $23 for students and seniors Saturday and Sunday. There is a post show event, a Commedia dell’Partay, following the Saturday, Oct. 19, performance. 

Students who attend DeSales or any other Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges can purchase tickets for $8. Group discounts are available for all performances. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Labuda Center Box Office at 610-282-3192 or by visiting the website at tickets.desales.edu.

To improve accessibility for all patrons, the Saturday, Oct. 12, 2:00 p.m. performance will feature Audio Descriptions for patrons who are blind or visually impaired. During Audio Described performances, all action and physical appearances are described live through a headset. Tickets are half price for patrons using these special services on this date. Please call Box Office Manager Eric Pierson at 610-282-1100, ext. 1820, for more information.

The Labuda Center is accessible and equipped with a listening enhancement system. Special seating is available for our patrons using wheelchairs or requiring other assistance. Please inform the box office of your needs when ordering tickets.