Les Fourberies de Scapin

("The deceits of Scapin") A three-act French comedy by Molière.

The original text

Based on the Scapino character from the commedia dell'arte[1], the story apparently derives from the Roman-Greek farce, Phormio by Terence, which in its turn was based on a play by Apollodorus of Carystus. . The play was first staged on 24 May 1671 in the theatre of the Palais-Royal in Paris by the Troupe du Roi. First published 18 August 1671, and in collected editions in 1671 and 1682.

Translations and adaptations

English

Translated into English under a range of titles and adapted in many versions, including Scapino! (Frank Dunlop, Jim Dale, 1975), and The Impostures of Scapin (Charles Heron Wall), Scapin (Bill Irwin, Mark O'Donnell, 1997), etc.

English translation adapted for the stage by Andrew Miller in 1976 under the title That Skelm Scapino and set in the Cape Peninsula.

Afrikaans

Translated into Afrikaans as Die Jakkalsstreke van Scapino ("The trickeries of Scapino") by Bartho Smit in 1958.

Performance history in South Africa

In French

1809: Performed in the French original on 2 December 1809 , along with a presentation entitled La Fantasmagorie, by a new Dutch-French company, led by J.H. Meurant, but possibly with the help of J. Riaux.

In English

First produced in South Africa in English by ** in 19**.

In Afrikaans

1958: Performed in Afrikaans as Die Jakkalsstreke van Scapino ("The trickeries of Scapino") by Bartho Smit and produced by NTO in 1958, directed by Jannie Gildenhuys. A prologue written by Gildenhuys was recited by Tilana Hanekom. Siegfried Mynhardt, Cobus Rossouw, Tilana Hanekom, Pieter Geldenhuys, Jannie Gildenhuys, Kita Redelinghuys, Anton Grobler, Leonora Nel and Johan van Zyl made up the cast. Décor by Frank Graves, costumes by Doreen Graves. Music composed by Peter Rorke.

Repeated by **

Toured by CAPAB as a library production in the 1960s.

Presented by Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch in 1963, directed by Jo Gevers, starring Franz Marx, Gevers, Piet van Straaten, Gertie Smith-Visser, Henk Hugo, Deon Joubert, Carmen Haddad, Annatjie Voster, Antoinette Terblanche, Gisela Täger.

Die Jakkalsstreke van Scapino directed by Jo Gevers with the UTB, with himself in the lead role, in June 1965.

Directed by Franz Marx in 1967 for PACT with Louis van Niekerk (Geronte), Don Lamprecht (Silvester), Marius Weyers (Leander).

In 1973 Errol Ross directed the play for PACOFS, starring Ernst Eloff and Jannie Gildenhuys.

Presented by CAPAB in 1986, directed by Jannie Gildenhuys who played in the original NTO production. The cast:Neels Coetzee (Argante), André Roothman (Geronte), Mark Graham (Ottavio), David Butler (Leandro), Victoria Bawcombe (Zerbinetta), Claire Berlein (Giacinta), Marthinus Basson (Scapino), David Butler (Silvestro). Design by Jenny de Swardt, lighting design by Malcolm Hurrell.

Smit's translation adapted and directed by Sandra Temmingh at the Suidoosterfees 2007 entitled Skelmstreke starring David Isaacs, Nicola Hanekom and Mbulelo Grootboom.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phormio_(play)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commedia_dell'arte

http://moliere.paris-sorbonne.fr/base.php?Phormion

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/8776

Helen Jordan, 1898. Terence's Phormio as the Basis for Molière's Les Fourberies de Scapin[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Fourberies_de_Scapin

Lantern, 7(4):375-380. 1958.

UTS theatre pamphlet

PACOFS Drama 25 Years, 1963-1988

Grütter, Wilhelm, CAPAB 25 Years, 1987. Unpublished research. p 415

Jakkalsstreke van Scapino theatre programme (CAPAB), 1986.

Die Burger 13 January 2007.

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