From: Theatre @ Southeastern
Date: March 23, 2006
Contact: Dell McLain
580.745.2794
For Immediate
Release
Theatre at Southeastern is delves into the Italian art of Commedia dell’arte with Moliere’s slapstick comedy Scapin this April. Adapted by Bill Irwin and Mark O’Donnell and directed by Barbara Alkofer, Scapin portrays a sly servant that tricks two fathers in order to gain a handsome sum of money for their son’s dowries. Scapin will perform at Southeastern’s main campus in Durant and tour to the Southeastern campus in McCurtain County. “When the E.T. Dunlap Higher Education Center joined the Southeastern family, we felt it important to provide arts programming for that campus,” said SOSU Director of Theatre Dell McLain.
Commedia dell’arte, meaning “Comedy of Art,” is a form of improvised drama that developed in the 14th century in Italy and flourished during the 16th and 17th centuries. “One of the most significant features of this show is its use of traditional costume and set ideas from the original Commedia dell’arte period.” said Dell McLain, Director of Theatre. Alkofer, a associate professor of Theatre at Southeastern, is also head of costuming and will be in charge of overseeing the designs. The use of clown masks and costumes in Commedia dell’arte helped introduce the professional actor into Europe. The clown-like masks and costumes are a tradition that developed so audience members could identify each of the comic characters for which the style is known. These featured characters include a mischievous scoundrel (such as Scapin), a clumsy servant, pretentious lovers, and befuddled old men. “Scapin is the typical clever servant true to all Commedia dell’arte plays who is trying to swindle the lovers’ dowry money.” said Stage Manager, Charity LaPonsie.
All of these characters would be seen in the traditional dress with masks. “The apparel used for these plays helped to develop the modern clown costume we would recognize today,” Said Alkofer. While they vary, Commedia dell’arte masks over emphasize certain facial features such as a large nose, lengthy eyebrows, and deep wrinkles. For the non-clown characters “the audience will get the chance to see what traditional Baroque costumes look like,” says Alkofer.
The set design will be a collaboration of Alkofer and Dr. James Cunningham, associate professor and design/technical director. Representing the traditional Italian street scene with three houses from the original Commedia dell’arte, the task of painting the set will be undertaken by Dr. Cunningham’s scene painting class. Dell McLain said “what a wonderful opportunity for students to take their work from the classroom into practical application.” Consisting mainly of painted drops with cutouts of doorways for entrances on and off stage, “it is of academic importance a class participates in such a project,” said McLain. As the show is traveling to Idabel, the scenery must be constructed for portability, adding to the challenge in design and execution.
“This show will require patience in order to achieve good comic timing and a serious study of parts,” said Alkofer. Commedia dell’arte requires substantial amounts of stamina, energy, and clown-like skills such as juggling, summersaults, and even acrobatic feats, also known as lazzi. Stunt director, Samantha Dougless, is in charge of choreographing short dances, as well as making sure the actors can perform the stunts without getting injured. Stunts include pratfalls, lifts, cartwheels, and round-offs. “Much of the action consists of overly exaggerated movement,” said Dougless, “such a challenge is great experience.”
“Rehearsal never ceases to be entertaining,” said LaPonsie, “I forward to seeing the finished product.” The cast members for this show include: Chase Jackson as Scapin, Eric Gray as Sylvestre, Travis Barnhart as Octave, Heather Whitsell as Hyacinth, Ryan Billingsley as Leander, Nicole Godwin as Zerbinette, James Fletcher as Geronte, Dustin Eastwood as Argante, and Vanessa Miller as Nerine.
Scapin will be performing at SOSU Thursday, April 27th and Friday, April 28th at 7:00 p.m. in UC300 and in Idabel at the SOSU McCurtain County Campus on Tuesday, March 2nd. Tickets are only $2 and can be reserved by calling the theatre box office at 580-745-2696.