A LOOK AT "SCAPINO" BY JEFFREY BINDER: A Brief Overview of Scapin the Schemer and the History of this Zany Commedia Character

 

BACKSTORY WITH BOBBY KENISTON

 There's just something about a character who can talk themselves out of anything, isn't there? A character who can somehow keep track of the lies they keep piling on and on, nimbly deceiving those around them without breaking a sweat. This is a staple of great comedies and farces all throughout history, even as early as Ancient Greece and Rome, and tonight, playwright Jeffrey Binder's Scapino takes a classic tale by Moliere and effortlessly sets it in a mafia style comedy for today's audiences. 

Moliere's Scapin the Schemer was first presented on the 24^th of May, 1671. And while this is the original source material for tonight's adaptation, Moliere's character Scapino or Scapin is named after a zanni character for the commedia dell'arte. A zanni character is what the commedia dell'arte referred to as a type of character that was an astute servant and, even more importantly, a trickster. Such characters were immensely popular in the commedia with all types of crowds, and our English word “zany” is derived from such characters. Scapin himself is said to have been created by Niccolo Barbieri, an Italian writer and director of the commedia dell'arte, and an occasional actor as well, as it is said that he performed before the Royal Court of France.

The name Scapino is directly related to the Italian word “scappare” which means “to escape”, and literally translates to “little escape artist.” A fitting name for a trickster who talks fast, and flees from fights even faster (even the ones he starts himself). Moliere's Scapin talks of having had a falling out with Justice, a “trifling quarrel” in which he claims, “She used me very badly; and I felt so enraged against the ingratitude of our age that I determined never to do anything for anybody.” Their means of escape includes escaping accountability for most of their actions, using their wit and words to stay one step ahead of all of those around them.

To be honest, I am surprised that it took so long for someone to come up with the brilliant idea of placing a Scapin zanni type character in a mafia comedy. I tip my hat to playwright Jeffrey Binder, who spent most of his career as a New York City actor, performing on and off Broadway, as well as appearing in several television shows. He has been trained in the technique of commedia and clowning, so you can rest assured that this adaptation, while new and bold, is also true in spirit to the masters that came before him. His journey in becoming a playwright began after he adopted his daughter and left New York City to become the Associate Artistic Director of the Gulfshore Playhouse in Naples, Florida, where the Artistic Director encouraged the development of his Scapino every step, leading to a critical (“A bold stroke of creative genius!”, the Naples Daily News proclaimed) and commercial success that is now being produced all over the country.

So please sit back and enjoy the zany (and zanni) mayhem of Scapino, our penultimate production of the season. But please save some of your laughter for Who's in Bed with the Butler?, our final show of the season coming soon.

Note:  This backstory originally appeared in Lakewood Theater's program for their production of Scapino.

To learn more about Jeffrey Binder's adaptation or to acquire rights to produce it, visit Concord Theatricals by CLICKING HERE.