Overview
Synopsis
The passions of two young lovers whose relationship is preordained for doom sets off the events of Carlo Goldoni’s A Curious Mishap. Giannina, daughter of wealthy merchant Philibert, is in love with French lieutenant De la Cotterie, who has returned from war with a damaged psyche and no money to his name. No longer able to conceal his passions but knowing that Philibert will not consent to marriage, De la Cotterie resigns himself and plans to return to France. The stakes are suddenly made higher when Philibert deduces that De la Cotterie must be in love with someone in his household. When Giannina tricks Philibert into thinking that the object of De la Cotterie’s affections is actually Costanza, the daughter of lowly shipping broker Riccardo, things begin to get complicated. With asides, stock character types, and verbal jousting typical of the Italian commedia style, audiences will have fun trying to keep up with A Curious Mishap’s rapid pace and the inter-tangled relationships between its characters.
Show Information
- Book
- Carlo Goldoni
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1760
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Period, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- The house of Philibert., The Hague, Netherlands.
- Cast Size
- small
- Orchestra Size
- None
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Ensemble Cast, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters, Small Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A dramatic device where a character speaks directly to the audience or to themselves, unheard by other characters onstage.
A character who negotiates deals or exchanges, sometimes used in political or business-themed dramas to represent corruption or ambition.
An Italian theatrical form featuring masked stock characters, improvisation, and physical comedy, influential in modern comedy and clowning.
Recognizable character types used across theatrical traditions, such as the fool, villain, or ingenue.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Kevan Dunkelberg
Oklahoma-based drama teacher, actor and playwright