From the Mailbag: What’s the relationship between King Silvio and Pantalone in The Love of Three Oranges?

Hello, I am directing your wonderful play, The Love of Three Oranges. We have just begun rehearsals and are enjoying the process greatly. I want to ask you about the relationship between Pantalone and the King. What character in our world would you liken Pantalone too? How would you describe their relationship?Thank you very much.

I’m not hip enough to give you a reference that your students would relate to. The most modern thing I can think of is The Simpsons’ Smithers and Mr. Burns without t...