The Servant of Two Masters

See it if you love slapstick. I found SOTM tedious w/ few laughs, but admired its energy and staging. Beautiful Act II song by 3 women. Fireflies!

Don't see it if you want depth. This is fluffy, but audience loved it. Fascinating glimpse of Commedia. Current references are fun, but overdone. Needs cuts

See it if you'd like a silly (but not fluff) show. It's been updated nicely to reflect modern moods and pop references. Some jokes fall flat.

Don't see it if you can't follow a convoluted old (as in 1700's) style story. It's in English and mostly modern but still hard to follow at times.

See it if you want to see an energetic cast give their all in a well-staged commedia dell'arte. Following tradition, this is silly & improvisational.

Don't see it if as the NYTimes (a victim of much ridicule throughout) points out, you'll find the non-stop modern references increasingly dumb & insulting.

See it if You like to see a silly play and be happy! The cast is energetic and the storyline is ridiculous, but the actors and the audience loved it!!

Don't see it if You want the original play and dislike a classic being changed with current lines to fit today's circumstances;are a prude

Also Steven Epp's performance as the Servant is outstanding. The critics may pan this production, but anyone who likes to laugh will enjoy it. After the show was over, everyone in my elevator agreed that we were the happiest that we had been in many months. It was a tough Election process and now we were back!!
That is what theater should do for us. Pleasure!... Read more Read less

See it if You like absurdist comedies with brilliant acting and a lot going on. A wonderfully told stories by stellar actors who really get into it.

Don't see it if You don't enjoy the breaking of the fourth wall, raunchy humor, sometimes over played jokes, and basic all around silliness.

See it if interested in a resuscitation of commedia & operetta stylings & experiencing a rarely done classic with a talented cast

Don't see it if not interested in a museum piece that doesn't achieve the adapted gold standard level of ONE MAN 2 GUVNERS its Broadway cousin

Also A 1971 college production [UW-Milwaukee] of ServantOf2Masters where clowncar VW Beetle delivered large cast & all set pieces at the top of show & every moment seemed to top that, is my memory of what this show has to be. I did perk up at the operetta moments in this production which combined the beauty of the singing with the goofy nature of operetta conventions.... Read more Read less

See it if you're interested in seeing commedia dell'arte (with modern topical references). The basis for One Man, Two Guvnors.

Don't see it if you don't like bawdy, crude and sometimes just silly humor. One Man, Two Guvnors did it much better.

See it if You want light and funny. You don't mind a lot of movement on and off stage. You like slap stick comedy. You want to laugh and enjoy silly.

Don't see it if You want something deep and moving. You don't like slap stick comedy. You are not open to something different. You are too serious.

Also Although everything was not gut busting funny I was thoroughly entertained by the energy on stage. The actors really put forth a lot of energy and I really appreciated that. I laughed a lot. I like silly at times and this was a good silly. I like to laugh at life when I can and they put out a few jokes that made it very possible to do that. Some reviewers say it was longish and maybe it was but I never felt like there was a dull moment for me. When I left the theater I had a smile inside thanks to the performers. You have to learn to lighten up. Life is already serious enough. Laughter is great medicine.... Read more Read less

See it if You want a good time with every cliche in the book done by master's of the art form

Don't see it if You don't like commedia and want to avoid smiling

See it if you want to see a brilliantly & rarely performed 18th century farce performed in the Italian "Commedia' style with pop culture references.

Don't see it if you don't enjoy 18th century Italian farce performed by a hardworking and talented cast of actors who have the style down to a science.

See it if you're up for a refreshingly silly fast paced romp by a sharp ensemble in a too-long Commedia update marred by too many cheap election jokes

Don't see it if you've lost all sense of wonder or childhood, hate farce, buffoonery (at least onstage) or earthy humor that's universal and timeless.

Also There's more than a bit of magic in this production—the wonder that comes of simple but well-crafted bits of stagecraft that can transport an audience—light & dark, flickering lights, the rhythms of speech & motion, the easy joy of play.

Not at all an update or modernization, this Servant strives instead to make the form relevant & present by being current; so that while the costumes, screwball form & plot are traditional 18th Century, ad libs & references are contemporary.

All too contemporary, in fact, & therein lies the problem with this otherwise extremely polished & executed show. The references, unexpected & funny at first, become pretty easy & obvious, the post-election one liners increasingly cheap shots we tire of hearing.

Epp & company are truly fine, with amazing touch & technique that begin like clockwork with rapid-fire call-and-response timing that show the possibilities of true ensemble work. This unfortunately devolves into a one man show. Still, it's worth seeing.... Read more Read less

See it if You have a funny bone.

Don't see it if You're looking for something profound

Also I don't know how some reviewers scored this show so low. Maybe a week ago the cast wasn't as finely tuned as they are now. A number of current topical jokes gave been changed. At the show I saw most of the audience laughed throughout. Fully half the audience gave a standing ovation. If you are on the fence due to some bad reviews I urge you to go see it.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy coarse broad jokes, and are easily amused. It is 18th century humor with tons of current references.

Don't see it if You have more subtle tastes, perhaps don't care for humor at all. Certainly Trump fans, unlike me, might have issues.

See it if you enjoy physical, broad comedy. Topical references fun but a bit repetitive. Much better than NY Times review would have you believe.

Don't see it if you don't like commedia dell'arte or prefer more serious theater.

See it if Ur in the mood for something like a trip to the circus where the crowd is laughing & smiling the whole time.Not exactly a theater experience

Don't see it if U want more than just spectacle. The costumes, sets, singing are great. 95% of the jokes are just silly. WAY too long for this kind of thing

See it if you are able to enjoy pure silliness, executed by skillful actors, just for the purpose of entertainment.

Don't see it if you don't like Commedia dell'Arte and/or contemporary ad-libs.

Also Would be better at 90 minutes, no intermission. Start by cutting half of the political ad-libs! At least half of them aren't funny.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see what Comedia Del' Arte is like; largely improvised and frantic. Acting is good, just didn't like it-can't put finger on why

Don't see it if don't like improvised comedy; want a good plot

See it if you enjoy comedy. Epp is a master clown. Show runs like a Swiss clock after many productions with the cast.

Don't see it if Grumpy Gus is your nickname. Easy to satisfy an audience after one act, so leaving is not unusual.

See it if You enjoy Slapstick & follow the genre or appreciate new interpretations of this specific play

Don't see it if You get restless with physical humor, you want more narrative than folly

See it if you like British panto, that's exactly what this is. Pure goofy fun. It took me 40 min to get on the ride; Brit spouse laughed from get-go

Don't see it if you are sober (jk - almost); hoping for a serious, thought-provoking or consequential night out; don't like slapstick or cringe-worthy humor

See it if A classic comedy that sported One Man Two Governors. An extraordinary cast that are minute perfect.

Don't see it if Your a sour puss and don't want to travel to a theatre around the corner from BAM.

See it if u like to see frenetic, throw-everything- see-what-sticks theater w/ many groaner jokes, puns & topical name droppings. Cast works v/ hard.

Don't see it if I left at the intermission (rare for me), I just couldn't take 45 more minutes of this busy, bright, empty thing. Loved ONE MAN,TWO GUVNORS.

See it if you like commedia dell'arte, broad comedy, meta comedy, improv, and live music.

Don't see it if you want a serious, scripted play with a lot of character development or plot. There are scripted moments, but a fair amount of improv also

See it if you enjoy goofy, slapstick type comedy with many topical references

Don't see it if you want a straight forward play or don't enjoy laughing

See it if You enjoy a very funny story, terrific acting, improvisation and laughing. A welcome respite fromthe gloom. . Well deserved ovation.

Don't see it if You only like serious drama. The New York Times review is so off mark - as if Isherwood was at another play.