The drama department puts on five shows per year and Scapino! will be taking the stage this Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. Scapino! is an adaptation of an Italian play called Les Fourberies de Scapin by Moliere written by Jim Dale and Frank Dunlop and performed in a commedia dell’arte style. This adaptation follows the same plot structure as its Italian counterpart, but the jokes are refined for a modern audience.
Scapino! takes place in contemporary Naples, Italy and revolves around the main character Scapino, played by Maaz Ahmed, trying to trick two of his friends’ fathers out of marrying their sons off. The show consists of a small cast of 15 students from seniors to freshmen who have been working on the show since the beginning of March.
On top of the talented cast, there are also 40 students involved in the show. Hair, makeup, costumes, props, lighting, and sound are all aspects of the show that take weeks of hard work. Senior London Bicknell has designed costumes for 6 shows and been involved for 15, but for Scapino!, junior Brooklyn Carlson took charge. Bicknell comments on the work of Carlson saying, “It all looks fantastic! The costumes have the spunk of the 70s with a sentiment for Italy.” All facets of the show, from lighting to costumes, are set to impress the crowds on Friday and Saturday.
This show is sentimental for the drama department as it is one of their last for this year. Ahmed commented on this saying, “This show is one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had on the Spartan Stage, beyond that of Sweeney Todd or Improv Night, and I really hope a lot of people can make it. It’s not one to miss.” Tickets are available online at pleasval.org/theatre and can also be purchased the day of the show.
