The Liar (Goldoni)

"The Liar" ("Il bugiardo") is a comedy by Carlo Goldoni. It was written as part of Goldoni's fulfilment of a boast that he had inserted into the epilogue to 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 the Teatro Sant' Angelo in Venice. [Holme (1976, 108, 190).] It draws on commedia dell'arte conventions and stock characters.

Plot

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 a well, 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.

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 in Rome he married a Roman lady, who comes to claim him, leaving Rosaura and Beatrice free to marry Florindo and Ottavio.

Characters

*Lelio, the Liar
*Arlecchino, his servant
*Pantalone, his father
*Doctor Balanzone
*Rosaura and Beatrice, his daughters
*Colombina, their maidservant
*Florindo, assistant to Balanzone, in love with Rosaura
*Brighella, his friend, in love with Colombina
*Ottavio, in love with Beatrice
*Cleonice, a Roman lady

References

* Holme, Timothy. 1976. "A Servant of Many Masters: The Life and Times of Carlo Goldoni". London: Jupiter. ISBN 0904041611.