In The Great One-Man Commedia Epic, actor/writer/director Matthew R. Wilson single-handedly brings to life the entire cast of 15 characters drawn from the historical commedia dell’ arte. The story is the classic story of Italian Renaissance comedy: Young lovers have their lives thrown into chaos as their wedding plans are threatened by squabbling fathers, boasting war heroes, and a host of well-meaning but dim-witted servants. The entire town is drawn to the brink of tragedy before love prevails, normalcy is restored, and comedy triumphs.

The story is still recognizable and entertaining today as these charming personalities struggle to survive, and the audience simultaneously delights in watching Wilson struggle to control his rambunctious cast. Playing both sides of classic comic double-handers, staging raucous scenes of full-company hysteria, and even dueling himself, Wilson creates an entire world on a bare stage, with only the aid of a versatile costume by Jessica Wegener and traditional commedia dell'arte masks, designed and hand-crafted in leather by the world-renowned Antonio Fava!

A treat for avant-garde theatre fans, scholars of dramatic history, and the fun-loving child in all of us, this remarkable event is sure to please anyone who wants to see how modern comedy began 500 years ago as well as those who are looking for laughs today.

Actor, writer, and director Matthew R. Wilson has performed in seven countries and seventeen U.S. states as well as at notable theatres throughout New York City and his hometown, Washington, DC. A graduate of Antonio Fava's International School for Comic Acting, he now works as an instructor at Fava's School in Reggio-Emilia, Italy. In addition to his work in physical theatre, mask & movement, and the commedia dell'arte, Wilson also performs in modern theatre, television, and film. His extensive Shakespeare credits include playing Hamlet, Malvolio, Touchstone, Romeo, Benedick, and Sir Andrew Aguecheek, as well as directing Troilus & Cressida and A Midsummer Night's Dream. He holds an MFA from the Academy for Classical Acting and is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association, the Screen Actors' Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and the Socity of American Fight Directors.