The Servant of Two Masters

Act One:

Everyone is gathered for a wedding celebration at the House of Pantalone. Clarice, Pantalone’s daughter, and Silvio, her betrothed, prepare to sign the marriage contract in front of their guests. Suddenly, the party is interrupted when a young man claiming to be Frederigo di Rasponi appears. This is most upsetting for Clarice, because she was previously engaged to Frederigo-- until he was declared dead following a duel with his sister’s lover. Now she is in love with another man: Silvio.

Frederigo insists on being paid the dowry owed to him by Pantalone. Brighella, a family friend, happens to notice something interesting about Frederigo: he is actually his sister Beatrice in disguise! Brighella, after speaking privately with Beatrice, agrees not to reveal her secret. Feeling pressured to honor his previous agreement with “Frederigo”, Pantalone cancels Clarice and Silvio’s wedding. Clarice is devastated.

Meanwhile Truffaldino, Frederigo’s quirky servant, notices Smeraldina.