Carlo Goldoni's Master (and Mistress) piece "Servant of Two Masters" is in performance now at the Greek Theater on the campus of The College of St. Elizabeth in Convent Station, New Jersey. Going to the Greek Theater, conveniently located in a rustic setting, is like stepping back in time. Kevin Judge's set took great advantage of providing perspective in a small space and had some great versatile features that served the actors well.

The main character in the merry mayhem is the con artist Truffaldino, played by the winsome and kinetically gifted Alex Morf. When a character's first entrance is a cartwheel, you can see where his path will take him through the show.

Complementing our Man Friday is Amanda Duffy as Smeraldina, whose lines are mostly the asides that help move the audience along. Leaning into rather than piercing the fourth wall, we are definitely in her confidence. So who else populates the scene?

Soon-to-be star-crossed lovers Silvio (Jordan Coughtry) and Clarice (Susan Maris) are whiny Ken and Barbie dolls and are brilliantly two-dimensional. They make excellent foils for one another and for their fathers. Silvio's father, Il Dottore, clearly a man of the law, is Colin McPhillamy, whose voice moved through several different accents, master of the world as he clearly is. The benighted Pantalone, William Metzo, is nonplussed about the suitor that he hears is dead, who miraculously comes back to life, after he's betrothed his daughter to Silvio!

Whence comes this living dead man? Classic cross-dressing comedic fun is the order of the day when Caralyn Kozlowski takes the pants-role of Beatrice, who is dressing as her dead brother, Federico, both in order to travel more safely and to take care of their financial interests. She is also following her fleeing lover Florindo, played by the handsome and semi-imperious Matthew Simpson, and, of course, neither knows that the other has arrived in town.

The one character tying everything together of course is Brighella, the brilliant Jeffrey Bender, who is the chef and innkeeper, who was friendly with the is-he/isn't-he defunct "Federico," and agrees to keep the family secret.

Truffaldino is the glue that both gums things up and brings everyone together. Tumbling his way, quite literally, into your heart and that of Smeraldina, he determines that twice the masters and twice the salary, while twice the reward, brings a great risk versus reward ratio-until the rubber hits the road.

The theatre is charming and ideal for the all-aged audience who was there. We took folding chairs and sat at the top where we could see the panoramic view framing the set, and others brought blankets, pic-a-nics, wine and more. Children gamboled, perhaps inspired by Truffaldino, and played during the intermission.

The entire cast, as an ensemble provided lots of physical comedy, broad asides that the adults enjoyed that went right over the heads of the children, who wondered what we were laughing at, and moments of drama broken with humor with perfect timing. Take a jacket, and something to ward off crawly and flying things and you will have a grand time.

If you forget food, the smell of popcorn periodically perfumed the air, and soft drinks are available. Exits and entrances happen through the audience and this keep us involved and makes us part of the show.

A charming convention of the outdoor venue, where one must be responsive to lights, creatures and the Morris County airport nearby, is the cast's handling of periodic take-offs. Lear jets and small corporate planes taking off occasionally prevent sound from reaching us, at which times, the cast stops and points with wonder or romantic awe or other appropriate reaction based on what action is happening at the time. This is a great way to handle such interruptions and convert what could be a distraction to part of the show.

Performances continue Tuesdays through Sundays at 8:15 p.m., through August 1, at the Greek Theater amphitheater on the campus of the College of St. Elizabeth, 2 Convent Road in Morris Township. Conveniently located for Manhattanites - take NJ Transit to the Convent Station stop and you are a city-dweller's walk away - shorter than walking from Penn Station to the Port Authority. Seating is by general admission. Come early and bring food and wine to dine alfresco under the stars. Tickets are $32 for adults and $17 for ages 17 and under. Call 973-408-5600 or visit ShakespeareNJ.org.