Almost 400 years ago, French playwright Moliére wrote perhaps his most popular comedy, Les Fourberies de Scapin. It is a play revolving around the character of Scapin, who is quite the trickster. His character is manipulative, conniving and devious–all played through a witty and sarcastic persona for the audience of the 1600s. Enter modern day playwrights Mark O’Donnell and Bill Irwin. Both have spent years in theater, Irwin as a professional clown, actor, writer, producer and director. He wears many hats, which has served him well, especially when the two adapted Moliére’s play to a more modern portrayal simply entitled Scapin.
A play on comedy
Almost 400 years ago, French playwright Moliére wrote perhaps his most popular comedy, Les Fourberies de Scapin. It is a play revolving around the character of Scapin, who is quite the trickster. His character is manipulative, conniving and devious–all played through a witty and sarcastic persona for the audience of the 1600s.
Enter modern day playwrights Mark O’Donnell and Bill Irwin. Both have spent years in theater, Irwin as a professional clown, actor, writer, producer and director. He wears many hats, which has served him well, especially when the two adapted Moliére’s play to a more modern portrayal simply entitled Scapin.
The play tells the story of two sets of young lovers who desperately need the assistance of the talented Scapin in order for all of them to be married. Scapin, who in the modern version is more clown-like (think Buster Keaton), helps the lovers through the play while weaving a rather humorous tale.
Portland State students in the Movement Performance class will perform Scapin this weekend. Instructor Carolyn Holzman, along with co-director Joshua Spencer, directs the play.
“You need a very specific kind of actor for the lead of Scapin because he’s really a smart aleck and he’s nimble with his ideas and his language. You need someone who can just pull that off, and who seems like sarcasm is just natural to them,” Holzman said. “Alex Fuchs is a wonderful actor in the department and he’s kind of perfect for it, and he happened to be in my class in the winter term and I asked him if he was interested.”
Fuchs did take up the opportunity to perform in Scapin along with many others who put on quite a well-rounded show. No part is really small or insignificant. The play relies more on the workings of an ensemble cast rather than just one or two leads to carry the show.
“I looked at the script and I was like ‘what!'” Holzman said. “I was a little worried about it ’cause it was so funny … plays that are funny a lot of times on the page, they don’t look funny at all, they don’t read funny, like when you read them they don’t make you laugh out loud. This was making me laugh as I was reading it.”
This air of humor is part of what makes Scapin a rather unique play. The characters are more exaggerated than one might expect. As Holzman put it, it is almost like an old-fashioned theater, where sometimes the actors will be speaking directly to the audience instead of the other actors on stage.
“The music cues everything. Usually actors’ entrances are based maybe more on some other technical aspect like lights, or some other actor leaves the stage. In this case almost all of the cues are based upon when a music cue begins, so then music moves the story,” said Holzman.
Mike VanLiew came in very helpful in regards to the music. As an accomplished composer he has been involved in many school’s music programs, including teaching jazz at Jefferson High School here in Portland. He will perform with the cast of Scapin as a guest artist.
“He is just a genius at doing this kind of theater,” Holzman said. “His contribution to the play, as to the actors ability to exaggerate beyond the normal scale and to play really in a different way than they usually do. His contribution is huge, because the energy just picks up.”
Whether you are a veteran spectator of the theater, or new to the art, Scapin will definitely provide a new and enjoyable experience for all.
ScapinJune 6 and June 77:30 p.m.Lincoln Hall 215FREE
