Davidson College Theater Department’s production of Moliere’s “Scapin” includes elements of classic commedia dell’arte, such as masks and improvisation. (Davidson College News Office photo)

By RACHEL ANDOGA
From Davidson College Communications Office

The piano is a problem. “It’s too big,” says director Scott Ripley. He looks at the stage, which will be dressed as a children’s bedroom come opening night. “The piano is too big to be in a child’s room. How can we fix it?” A conversation erupts among the cast. The verdict? “We’ll just make a joke out of it!” That’s how rehearsals have been going for the upcoming Davidson College production of Moliere’s “Scapin,” a rollicking tale of romance and deception.

“Collaboration” and “innovation” have been the magic words for director and cast of this Davidson College Theatre Department production, suitable for clowns of all ages. “We really want this to be a fabulous family experience with lots of laughter, music and fun,” said Anne Marie Costa, associate professor and chair of the Theatre Department at Davidson.

Performances of Scapin are Wednesday, Feb. 20 through Saturday, Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. All performances are in Tyler-Tallman Hall of the Sloan Music Center on the Davidson College campus.

Tickets are $12 for general admission, $10 for seniors, $9 for faculty and staff, and $5 for students. Tickets for Wednesday, Feb. 20, will be offered at a special two-for-one price. Thursday night’s production will be “Pajama Party Night,” with free milk and cookies at intermission for everyone who wears pajamas to the show. On Friday, Feb. 22, the director and cast will hold a Talk Back following the show. For reservations and ticket information, call 704-894-2135 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, or order online at www.davidson.edu/tickets.

This contemporary, musical adaptation of Scapin depicts the romantic tribulations of a set of young lovers and Scapin, a wily valet. Octave loves Hyacinthe, and Leandre loves Zerbinette, but both romances are threatened by miserly fathers. When Scapin’s elaborate plan to outsmart the old curmudgeons goes horribly awry, he does what any devoted servant would do: He invents the scheme of a lifetime!

Mr. Ripley, a visiting theater professor at Davidson, has incorporated into the production elements of commedia dell’arte, a form of improvisational theatre that began in 16th-century Italy. The style relied not on a script, but on the remarkable chemistry of a troupe of actors who would each develop and master a single comic archetype or stock character. Classic commedia-style troupes had no writers or directors, but improvised scenarios based on the characters. The art form fell out of fashion in the 18th century, when playwrights began committing their work to print.

“What we’ve tried to do is recreate that original commedia troupe mentality,” Mr. Ripley said. “In rehearsal, our mantra is ‘get up, play around,’ and it’s been astounding to be a part of that process. As far as I know, this adaptation has never been done in this style before.”

The most likely comparison Mr. Ripley said audiences can make to the spirit of the production involves a certain animated, sitcom family. “Commedia is the root of all comedy and to understand it, you’ve got to watch cartoons,” he said.

“Everything about commedia dell’arte is cartoonish — their voices, their gestures, the sound effects. The Simpsons has the same kind of comic archetypes that existed in 16th-century Italy, the same kind we’re playing with in our production.”

Mr. Ripley frames Scapin’s misadventures in the context of children playing. Daisy and Toby, played by Desiree Domo ’09 and Josh Tobin ’10, transform their bedroom into the stage upon which Moliere’s Scapin occurs.

The production mixes improvisational theatre, audience participation and music in a way that re-imagines the original commedia tradition. “This play has some of the bravest performers I’ve seen at Davidson College,” Mr. Ripley said. “And, of course, from the greatest bravery comes the greatest rewards!”