The Mistress of the Inn

An original translation of the Carlo Goldoni play “La Locandiera”

A much-wooed but unrelenting hostess of an inn meets a visiting gentleman with the distinction of taking no interest in her whatsoever. She immediately plots to remedy this state of affairs. This 18th century comedic gem has been newly rendered in a contemporary prose form that retains the soulful flair of the Italian.

There were 11 performances at American Theatre of Actors, Sargent Stage, from March 1 - 10, 2001.

Mistress was a “Pick of the Week” at New York Theatre Experience, where Martin Denton described this “raucous, high-spirited comedy” as “a bright and funny entertainment, one that solidifies Handcart’s reputation for worthy, adventurous fare.”

“Handcart’s finely tuned ensemble,” according to Julie Halpern of the Off-Off-Broadway Review, “never deteriorated into slapstick or obscenity, both of which are common traps in commedia productions. This production should serve as an example to show that updated comic classics need not be vulgar to be uproariously entertaining.”

The Cast

*member, Actors’ Equity