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Scapino!

Subject: Scapino!
by UnityTheatre on 2016/5/17 13:20:38

Closing out the Main Stage this season, Unity Theatre brings you the comedic farce, "Scapino!". This hysterical adaptation of Moliere's comic tale of Les Fourberies de Scapin, (literally Scapin’s Deceits) takes place in Naples, Italy. The lead character, Scapino, is a rapscallion who devises a complex plot to help two pairs of lovers against parental opposition that, it turns out, does not exist. Scapino is a mischievous, fast-talking, quick-thinking rascal, who cleverly manipulates and cajoles everyone into doing exactly what he intends them to do. Although Scapino is not a musical, it is punctuated with songs, for example an Italian menu is sung to a snappy tune in the opening scene!

George Brock returns to Unity Theatre to direct this fun-filled frolic, with his usual zest and fervor. George has directed many shows at Unity, including "Deathtrap", "The Odd Couple", "A Tuna Christmas", and "I Hate Hamlet", among others. George says, “I first saw this show back in the dark ages when I was in high school. My dear friend Brad Waters was playing Sylvestro. I was mesmerized from the first moment and when Scapino hit the stage the only thing I thought from that point on was ‘I must play that role one day!’ and thanks to chance and the good will of director Brandon Smith, I got to back at Actors Theatre of Houston in the ’90’s. Farce is difficult and here’s why: On the surface it seems like all big faces, loud talking and lots of physical silliness and for the most part that’s the outcome of the work the actors have to do…but if all of that isn’t firmly grounded in real, human choices resulting in extreme emotional responses it doesn’t work…it isn’t funny. When John Cleese slams his head on the desk in Fawlty Towers we laugh like loons not because he’s slamming his head on a desk but because he has reached a point of frustration we have all reached at some point and we see the honesty of what he is doing. It’s a play about beating an old man tied in a sack with a sausage…I mean how fun is that???”.

The cast and crew of "Scapino!" is a mixture of beloved local talent as well as some familiar, returning professionals from Houston and the surrounding areas. James Monaghan, who directed our most recent Studio production, "Jerry Finnegan’s Sister", and performed as Danny Fleming in "First Night", brings the rapscallion Scapino to life. Remember Kris Kringle (aka Santa Claus) from "Miracle on 34th Street"? That’s Ralph Ehntholt, and he’ll be joining the cast as Geronte. It’s a large cast, so you’ll also enjoy seeing Cris Skelton, Christine Saenz, Cydney Pennison, Devin Norwood, Jennifer Malisheski, Jim Salners, Jordan Gaskamp, Leslie Wood, Malik Cole, Christina Kelly, Tam Treviño, Wyntner Wood, and Zachary Leonard.

Scapino! runs for three weekends at Unity Theatre, previewing on Thursday, June 2nd, opening on Friday, June 3rd, and playing through Sunday, June 19th. Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 4:00 pm. Tickets are $27 and they are reserved, however $17 tickets are available for Preview, June 2nd, student tickets are always $15, and all unsold seats are $15 at 15 minutes prior to any performance. A talk-back with the cast and crew immediately follows the Preview performance on June 2nd and a Director’s Chat is scheduled for 7:30 pm on Saturday, June 11th, prior to the show. Reservations can be made through the Unity Theatre Box Office at 300 Church Street, open Monday through Friday, 10:00 am until 2:00 pm, by phone at (979) 830-8358, or by email to tickets@unitybrenham.org. Beginning May 23rd, you can also purchase your tickets online at https://Tickets.UnityBrenham.org. Visit the website at www.UnityBrenham.org for more information.