Overview
Synopsis
The Fan is part farce, part commedia dell’arte. While attempting to flirt with Signor Evarist, the young Signorina Candida breaks her fan. Determined to carefully and politely show his affections, Evarist buys Candida a new fan and secretly enlists Nina to deliver it discreetly. But the plan goes awry when a gossipy shopkeeper and the man in love with Nina see Evarist slip Nina the fan and assume it to be a romantic gesture. Misunderstandings, assumptions, and madcap physicality follow as the fan is passed from person to person, except its intended recipient.
Goldoni’s original 1763 French production was unsuccessful. However, audiences were much more receptive to a revised version performed in Venice two years later.
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Characters
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Character Portrayals
See StageAgent members who have performed roles in The Fan.
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Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A dramatic device where a character speaks directly to the audience or to themselves, unheard by other characters onstage.
An Italian theatrical form featuring masked stock characters, improvisation, and physical comedy, influential in modern comedy and clowning.
A performance technique where an actor speaks directly to the audience, breaking the fourth wall for dramatic or comedic effect.
A group of performers who function as a unit in a production rather than as individuals with leading roles.
Farce is a comedic style that emphasizes exaggerated situations, improbable coincidences, mistaken identities, and rapid pacing. It often includes physical humor such as slamming doors, frantic chases, or characters hiding in plain sight. Farce is designed to generate nonstop laughter, often prioritizing chaos and absurdity over realistic storytelling.
Works not protected by copyright and available for free use or adaptation. Many classical plays, including Shakespeare's, fall into the public domain.
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Guide Written By:
Kevan Dunkelberg
Oklahoma-based drama teacher, actor and playwright