The Liar(Goldoni play)
| The Liar | |
|---|---|
 Opening scene ofThe Liar | |
| Written by | Carlo Goldoni |
| Characters | Lelio, the Liar Arlecchino,his servant Pantalone,his father Doctor Balanzone Rosauraand Beatrice, his daughters Columbina,their maidservant Florindo,assistant to Balanzone, in love with Rosaura Brighella,his friend, in love with Colombina Ottavio, in love with Beatrice |
| Date premiered | 1750-51 |
| Place premiered | Teatro Sant' Angelo inVenice |
| Original language | Venetian |
The Liar(Italian:Il bugiardo) is acomedybyCarlo Goldoni.It was written as part of Goldoni's fulfilment of a boast that he had inserted into theepilogueto one of his plays that for the next season he would write sixteen comedies.The Liar,along with the fifteen other comedies, was staged in the 1750–51 season at theTeatro San AngeloinVenice.[1]It draws oncommedia dell'arteconventions andstock characters.
Plot
[edit]Lelio, a Venetian who has spent years away from home, returns to Venice. He courts the two daughters of Doctor Balanzone, Beatrice and Rosaura, without telling them which one he really loves. Meanwhile, each girl has another suitor, Florindo for Rosaura and Ottavio for Beatrice. Florindo is shy, however, and will not tell Rosaura that he loves her. This allows Lelio to concoct fabulous lies and convince Rosaura that he wishes to marry her. Meanwhile, Lelio's servant Arlecchino tries to woo the Doctor's servant Columbina away from Brighella, Florindo's friend.
Lelio's lies get him into deeper and deeper trouble with the girls, their father, and his own father Pantalone. At the end, it is revealed that while inRomehe married a Roman lady, Cleonice Anselmi. He departs to go to her, leaving Rosaura and Beatrice free to marry Florindo and Ottavio, and Columbina free to marry Brighella.
References
[edit]- ^Holme (1976, 108, 190).
Bibliography
[edit]- Holme, Timothy(1976).A Servant of Many Masters: The Life and Times of Carlo Goldoni.London: Jupiter.ISBN0-904041-61-1.