Auditions
The Servant of Two Masters
By Carlo Goldoni, adapted by Nick Enright and Ron Blair
Directed by Rebecca McMahon and Gemma Keliher
On stage 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 June 2025
Rehearsals: Sunday afternoons 1.30-4.30pm (starting Sunday 30 March)
Mondays & Thursdays evenings 6:30-9:30pm
Audition date: Monday 10th March
Time: 6:30pm
Venue: Windsor School of Arts
381 Lutwyche Rd, Windsor
Callbacks (if required): Wednesday 12th March, 6:30pm
How to Audition
- Download the Audition pack PDF (contains character descriptions, rehearsal schedule))
- Fill out the Audition registration form
- Combination of prepared piece and cold read: auditionees should familiarize themselves with the provided, prepared pieces, but also be ready to do a cold read i.e. to read sections of the play without preparation.
- Email a headshot and acting CV to the Directors at
Membership fees: If you are cast for a role, you are required to become a 2025 financial member of Growl Theatre, which is $30 per calendar year (expires December 2025)
Other Costs: Growl Theatre will provide the vast majority of your costume. Depending on the role, the cast may be expected to purchase smaller items such as socks, stockings, gloves etc. Cast will be required to bring their own makeup basics (including foundation, eyeliner etc).
Characters (description & ages)
- Truffaldino (Male 20s to 40s): Servant of Beatrice (disguised as Signor Frederigo Rasponi). A loveable scoundrel, always out for a buck and some food. This actor will need to have good comedic timing. ‘Ocker’ accent is most welcome.
- Pantalona (Female 50s to 60s): Mother of Clarice, a gender swapped version of Pantalone – a stock character in commedia dell’arte who is portrayed as an old merchant, often wealthy and esteemed. With her exceptional greed and status at the top of the social order, Pantalona is “money” in the commedia world.
- Clarice (Female 20s): The young daughter of Pantalona; the ‘hard done by’ female romantic lead; formerly engaged to the now deceased Signor Frederigo Rasponi, now betrothed to Silvio – her true love.
- Silvio (Male 20s): The handsome young son of Dottore; newly betrothed to Clarice.
- Dottore (Male 50s to 60s): The father of Silvio; pompous, egotistical, well educated. Frequently breaks into Latin.
- Smeraldina (Female): This role has been precast
- Beatrice (Female 20s to 30s): Loving sister of Signor Frederigo Rasponi; on her own lover’s mission to marry Florindo; must be able to pull off ‘feisty’; disguised as her dead brother.
- Florindo (Male 20s to 30s): Lover of Beatrice; honourable and upright.
- Brighella (Any gender 40s to 60s): The local inn keeper.
- Waiter/Porter (Any gender, any age) – Minor characters, possibly doubled. No preparation required for these roles, if interested in auditioning for these, we’ll give you a piece to perform on the night.
About the Play
Truffaldino, a wily servant, has found a way to double his income – work two jobs for two masters at the same time. What could possibly go wrong?
Hang on.
His first master is actually a woman disguised as a man (who’s dead) come to find her lover (who killed her brother), but now finds herself accidentally betrothed to a girl (who’s engaged to someone else).
His second master is a man (actually a man) who is in love with his first master (who’s really a woman whose brother he actually killed). Nah. What could go wrong?
Carlo Goldoni’s The Servant of Two Masters is one of the masterpieces of commedia dell’arte, and Nick Enright and Ron Blair’s adaptation has become something of an Australian classic in its own right. This version of the play was produced by Bell Shakespeare – to critical acclaim – in 2003 with a return season in 2004.