Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, September 12, 2012 –Théâtre français de Toronto (TfT) presents its own take on Les Fourberies de Scapin (Scapin’s Deceits), running at the Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs from October 24 to November 10, 2012. With eight characters to cast in this production, TfT held dozens of auditions in order to find the perfect gem(s). This cast is a mix of brand new faces and ones that many will recognize from past productions.
Set in Naples, the production subtly blends eras and styles. Director Guy Mignault says that he wants the audience to “feel like singing at the end of the play”. Music, particularly Neapolitan music, plays a crucial part, while the set by Marie-Ève Cormier evokes the Naples seashore, its neutral tones contrasting well with the bright hues of Melanie McNeill’s costumes. The surtitles are projected directly on clothes drying on a rope. This hanging laundry calls to mind the French saying “laver son linge sale en famille” (do your dirty laundry at home).
Left to their own devices while their fathers are away on business, two friends, both young men, fall in love. One of them, Octave, adores a modest servant girl, Hyacinthe; the other, Léandre, a gypsy, Zerbinette. When their fathers come back home with some suitable wedding plans for their sons, the young men ask Scapin, Léandre’s valet, to “concoct some invention, come up with some machine” to get them out of their predicament. The sly, shrewd valet agrees and sets up a game which he plays deftly.
With colourful characters, intrigue, and a rhythm drawn from the Commedia dell’Arte, Molière gives us a timeless and exhilarating masterpiece.
A production of Théâtre français de Toronto. Written by Molière. Direction: Guy Mignault. With Sébastien Bertrand, Noa May Dorn, Robert Godin, René Lemieux, Meillie Ng, Lindsay Owen Pierre, Nicolas Van Burek, Philippe Van de Maele.
Production Team: Stage Management Gabriel Dubé | Assistant Stage management Florian Richaud | Set Marie-Ève Cormier | Costumes Mélanie McNeill | Lights Simon Rossiter | Soundscape Claude Naubert | Surtitles Gunta Dreifelds.
Théâtre français de Toronto wishes to thank its sponsors: TD Bank, Show Sponsor and Sun Life Financial, Surtitles Sponsor.
Les Fourberies de Scapin (Scapin’s Deceits) by Molière
October 24 to November 10, 2012.
Théâtre français de Toronto
Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs – 26, Berkeley Street
Opening: Friday, October 26 at 8 pm | Previews: October 24-25, 8 pm
Performances: Wed. to Sat., 8 pm – Sat. Matinees: November 3 & 10, 3:30 pm – Sun. Matinees: Oct. 28 & Nov. 4, 2:30 pm
English Surtitled Performances: Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm; Sat. Nov. 10 at 3:30 pm.
Tickets: Adults: $33 to $57 | Seniors (65 and over): $28 to $57| Under 30: $30 – not available for the opening night.
Special discounts available on Wednesday nights with Pay What You Can tickets and on Saturday nights with $20 Rush Tickets (in both cases: purchase at the door, 1 hour prior to performance, cash only).
Box Office: www.theatrefrancais.com and (416) 534-6604 or 1(800) 819-4981
Illustration: Philippe Béha. ©2012.
2012-09-12
Toronto: TfT presents the Molière classic “Les Fourberies de Scapin” October 26-November 10