Les Fourberies de Scapin
A baroque musical-theatrical creation inspired by Molière´s comedy
(in the original French with Czech subtitles)
actors: Olivier Martin-Salvan, Bastien Ossart, Julien Cigana (France)
music: Collegium Marianum (Czech Republic)
masks: Teddy Melis
Wednesday 8 August 2007, 7.30 pm
Prague City Theatres – ABC Theatre,Vodičkova 28, Praha 1
The concept of this unusual performance relied on the integration of the music of French baroque masters and Molière’s comedy, which formed the basis of improvisation for both actors and musicians alike. The whole performance was rendered in the spirit of baroque theatre with all of its essential attributes: candlelight, baroque gesture and make-up. The 17th century pronunciation of French called for the use of diverse voice pitches from a youth to an old man, the enraged Gascon to the roguish Scapin.
The stage was shared by three actors and three musicians who inspired one another to comic scenes and musical improvisation within the framework of the tale of Scapin‘s adventures. The actors appeared alternately as miserly old men, young lovers, crafty servants and naïve maidens who entered into the game with vivacity and courage. In this baroque world, at times comical, at times poetical, a whole series of scenes emerged. The beauty of gesture and expression was enhanced by the flickering candlelight.
