Carlo Goldoni: Comedies

The excellent (though inexplicably unidentified) editor/translator of this volume accurately predicted my response to this author when ze compared him to Moliere.  I don't think of Moliere as particularly special, and neither do I Goldoni.  Both of them have their place, know their audiences, and above all know the stage and what will play on it.  Nonetheless, to this reader they serve as moderately entertaining, but unmemorable bookmarks.  In Goldoni's case, that bookmark is to show the intermediate step the Italian theatre took after the antics of the Commedia Del'Arte grew stale.  Significant, yes, and on the stage likely quite entertaining, but on the page a fair sight short of brilliant.