Lucentio and Tranio arrive at the same solution to enable Lucentio to win Bianca: Lucentio will become Bianca’s schoolteacher. They exchange clothes, and Tranio adopts Lucentio’s identity.
Stagecraft Master and servant (in pairs) Lucentio frequently asks his servant Tranio for ‘counsel’ or advice. The cunning and worldly servant is another stock character from the Italian commedia dell’arte tradition, whose role is to explain the plot to his lovesick master. • In your Director’s Journal, write notes for the actors playing these
art thou not advised did you not notice
hand part inventions ideas, plans meet and jump in one coincide
two characters in a modern production. To what extent does Tranio take the upper hand? Do you see Lucentio as an intelligent man blinded by love, or do you think he is rather dim-witted?
1 Changing clothes (in small groups) As Lucentio and Tranio swap clothes, there is great opportunity for farcical stage business. a Work out how the exchange of clothes should be enacted. In particular, think about the effects of any onstage spectators at this point (previous productions have used passing nuns, policemen, waiters and an early entrance by Biondello). Write detailed stage directions for everything that would be happening at this point.
Keep house entertain ply his book carry on with his studies
Basta! enough! (Italian) I have it full I’ve got it all worked out
port lifestyle
b Experiment with reading lines 193–208, exchanging clothes as you do so. Can you fit the lines to undressing and dressing again?
Themes
Uncase thee take off your outer garments
Clothes and identity Shakespeare’s stage did not make use of elaborate scenery or stage mechanics, but the actors did have lavish costumes. This is one reason for the interest Shakespeare shows in clothes as part of the plot (in the form of disguises and identity swapping) and as part of the imagery (the metaphorical references to clothes to explore the theme of appearance and reality). • Begin compiling a list of references to clothes and of imagery that
relates to clothing in the play. Start with what you have seen so far in this act. Add to this list as you continue reading, bearing in mind the following question: how do these references to clothing link to the ideas of appearance and reality, disguise, and social roles or status that are raised in the play?
32
sith since
serviceable to eager to serve