With bold characters, physical comedy, and a vibrant 1980s setting, the Peck School’s production of “Scapino!” offers a lively reimagining of the classic French farce “Scapin the Schemer” by Molière. The new staging honors commedia dell’arte while exploring what makes its humor resonate today.
The director behind “Scapino!” is Ralph Janes, whose vision for the production leans heavily into slapstick humor, rehearsed improvisation, and exaggerated expressions—all hallmarks of the early form of theatre.
Janes focused on preserving the roots of commedia dell’arte, even as some of the original themes and jokes feel dated today.
“We ask ourselves as a teaching institution: Does the commedia form still work, or can it still work,” Janes asked. “Can these stock characters, which we all recognize—the old man, the young lovers, the servants that get the better of their situations—be funny still in contemporary time?”
The cast spent time discussing what is considered appropriate and funny across different generations and cultures.
“I’m older than most of our actors, and I come from a different country. So, I had to ask my cast if the things I found funny were the things they found funny,” Janes explained. “We had lots of discussion about our favorite shows and what cartoons we found funny in order to find fertile ground and understand what it means to be funny in today’s age.”
While preparing for his performance, senior Mikael Hagerstrand focused on how humor can connect across generations.
“Throughout the summer, we looked at a lot of different comedia dell’arte and comedy pieces and compiled them,” Hagerstrand explained.
“To build up the rehearsal space, we worked with lots of different bits and used that to connect with each other as individuals.”
Natalie Gustafson, also a senior, plays the role of Giacinta, a newlywed whose ideal romance is interrupted by family turmoil.
Her favorite part of the production has been the thought and effort that went into building the world. Vintage costumes and elaborate set designs help bring “Scapino” to life, and she’s excited for audiences to experience them.
“I hope that people will have a good time,” Gustafson said. “I’ve been working on this show for two months now, and I still have fun every day. I hope the audience sees that.”
“Scapino!” runs through Nov 23 at the UWM Mainstage Theatre. For tickets and more information, visit the PSOA Events Calendar.
Payton Murphy ’27 (BFA Film)