Revival of the Delightful French Comedy 'Scapin' to Blow Away Corona Blues

From October 14 to November 15 at Myeongdong Art Theater

Scene from the performance of 'Scapin'. Silvestre (Park Kyung-joo) and Scapin (Lee Jung-hyun)
[Photo by National Theater Company of Korea]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The National Theater Company will present Moli?re's original play 'Scapin (Les Fourberies de Scapin)' at Myeongdong Arts Theater from October 14 to November 15.

'Scapin' was first produced and premiered by the National Theater Company last year, selected as one of the 'Best 7 Performances of 2019' by Monthly Korean Theater, and won awards including the 56th Dong-A Theater Award for Stage Art. The National Theater Company explained that due to overwhelming audience requests for a rerun, they decided to hold a revival and regional performances this year.

'Scapin' is a representative work of Moli?re, the genius playwright born in France. The mischievous but lovable servant 'Scapin' mocks the greed and prejudice of the ruling class through the foolish surrounding characters. Two pairs of lovers, opposed by their families, ultimately reach a happy ending through repeated coincidences orchestrated by Scapin's schemes.

'Scapin' is a provocative work with a clear thematic consciousness, and at the same time, it rewrote theater history by adopting the Italian comedic style 'Commedia Dell'arte,' which shook French society at the time. 'Commedia Dell'arte,' relying on actors' improvisational skills, is characterized by professionalism, spontaneity, and popularity, often using unfamiliar masks and emphasizing elements such as singing and dancing.

Director Lim Do-wan, known as a master of physical theater, enhanced the original's witty brilliance with lively, cartoon-like movements to bring depth to the characters. The tightly woven dialogue and the cheerful mockery that blends the classical framework with modern sensibility deliver exhilarating laughter. Additionally, live sound effects by music director Kim Yo-chan, synchronized with the story, add to the play's enjoyment.

Lee Jung-hyun (Scapin), Sung Won (Moli?re), Park Kyung-joo (Silvestre), and Lee Ho-cheol (Octave), who appeared in last year's premiere, will also perform in this year's revival. The role of Arganth, a charismatic middle-aged woman who controls not only her business but also her timid son with her own will, the 'fearsome mother,' will be double-cast with National Theater Company season members Moon Ye-ju and Kwon Eun-hye. When these two do not play Arganth, they will alternate in the role of the nanny Nerinne.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, a 'distanced seating system' will be operated, and tickets can be reserved through the National Theater Company's website, Interpark, and Yes24. The performance may end early if the government strengthens social distancing measures. After the Seoul performances, the play will continue at Uijeongbu Arts Center on November 20-21.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.