dally nebraskan
thursday, march 8, 1979
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Italian TOBte to Wpitos'pJMt updated classic
By Dctsie Amnions
Surprises, deceptions, plot complica
tions, slapstick and any other form of com
edy imaginable combine to make Sccpino,
the latest. offering by the UNL Theatre
Department, an absolute joy to watch.
Set in modern day Naples, the play is by
far the best way to get acquainted with the
classics. Loosely based on a Moliere play,
Rascalities of Scapin, Frank Dunlop and
Jim Dale's Scapino updates the language,,
humor and actions of Moliere 's time to give
an age-old story 70s dress. '
The play concerns Scapino, the town's
resident problem-solver, an irrepressible
young man who delights in complicating
lives. He puts his talents to use helping two
of the town's eligible men marry the girls
of their dreams.
The road to marriage is blocked by the
men's fathers, who wish them to marry
girls they deem more suitable. Although
the route to happiness is detoured by sur
prises, and the ending is indeed a shock,
nothing is revealed by saying that everyone
ends up happy. And happiness is the es
sence of this light-hearted, high spirited
play.
Tailored role
The show belongs to Scapino, and the
part seems to be made for sophomore John
Thew. Thew was likeable and magnetic as
Scapino and his comedy timing kept the
show moving at a lively pace.
Movement makes up a great deal of the
comedy of 5bk. Thew , actions were
perfectly exaggerated, as were those of the
entire cast. Especially nice were scenes in
which he swings across stage on a rope to
elude some irate victims of his deception.
Another standout was Myron C. Papich
as Carlo, the bum. His scene in which he
and Scapino deceive Geronte, one of the
fathers, shows his talent for mimicking dif
ferent forms of comedy and characters.
The wealthy, demanding fathers were
excellently portrayed by Jim Anderson and
Phil Stone, respectively.
Anderson was sufficiently excitable as
Argante, although at times he talked so fast
that it was difficult to understand his
dialog.
Stone was believable as Geronte,
reputed to be the town's most stingy, mean
resident. Stone's Geronte was mean enough
to be threatening and naive enough to be
funny. .....
Clumsy counterpart
Robert Ball as ScapinoY sidekick Syl
vestro was a perfect counterpart to Thew.
Sylvestro has less class ana Is far more
clumsy than Scapino. Ball stood but in a
scene where he pretended to be a chain
wielding hood.
The other main characters were fine for
their parts. Larry Petersen portrayed Ot
tavio, son of Argante, and Amy Mills
played his love interest Giacinta. Thomas
Bothwell played Leandro, Geronte's son,
with Caron Buinis as Zerbinetta, the gypsy
he loves.
Although it seems their parts were
written to complement Scapino, some
scenes did highlight their comedy talents.
One such scene was between Ottavio and
Leandro. In a chase with Scapino, they
were required to improvise running
. throusfr the town and swimming.
Although I wont reveal how they
handle swimming on stage, I will say that,it
provided one of the show's funnier
moments.
Scapino 's technical aspects also shine.
The sound is particularly impressive, with
an. old-fashioned juke box emitting sound
akin to Dolby. The choice of songs was fit
ting for an Italian village. Sound designer
was Bill Honvlez.
- ; Vibrant set
Paul Whaley's set combined use of color
with innovative building to convey an
European flair. The set colors, combined
with Michael Bautista's lighting, were vi
brant and left the audience wiuYa carnival
.'feeling. '' ..".;, . r - "
r The set also was versatile, providing the
players with several scehes-a wharf, cafe
ana ocean were included. . v .
Director Hal Floyd made full use of the
set by placing actors, to every: area. He
also conveyed the spaciousness of Naples
by having the characters enter through the
aisle throughout the play
Patricia Dennis costumes finished the
liit, happy atmosphere with their lively
colors and wide rounded lines.
The playwrights have said that Scapino
is "a long way off from Moliere." Anyone
who sees it will concur, but even the most
fervent Moliere follower would have
trouble not having fun at Scapino.
Scapino runs tonfeht, Friday and Sat-r
urday with performances at 8 pm. in the
Howell Theatre. : ? t
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Photoby Jrry McBrid
John Thew enters sn Italian cafe a la Tarzan in a scene from Scapino playing at the Howell Theatre.
Omaha wlMmnistpai
By Kent Wsrneke
It's straiit from a Hollywood .script.
This gjri talked to her friend who talked
to her brother who lives below the celebri
ty, whereupon the brother talked the
celebrity into being interviewed.
It's straight from a Hollywood script,
but the scene takes place in Omaha, with
the Omdha World Herald's entertainment
columnist Peter Citron.
Some people may hot see Peter Citron
as a celebrity, but after talking to him; one
gets the feeling that if he isn't, he should
be- "
; "There's a part of me that's i ham and
loves to perform," Citron said. There are
some -tilings I enjoy doing, in particular
banquets, because you -know people are
there ready to listen to you. .
"And then there ' are things which I
really don't like such as the second show in
a niht 'club act where everyone there is
pretty well gone Citron said. "TJut it's.
tSX Had of fun to figure out audiences -123
tcidhcniv to them respond.
. . - rEsstS22S23taefiSs
otertsIaiag ;hM pven me a lot of
&2rS, like presence and poise in front of
ta audience that I don't cave naturally ,
he rdi. Tut then I will do almost
anything for entertainment Ten years so
I wou!d have dene aaythiag.w
Giron was bom in llzw York, and after
attending Dartmouth, College, off and on
for -three ye, experienced wide
variety of lifestyles"beforeI,setthngin
Omaha.
I wrote obituaries; I was a janitor; I
worked for a small weekly newspaper; I
ran a small weekly newspaper and I even
started by own small weekly newspaper,!
Citron said. "But then f ran out of money;
so I decided to come tb Omaha. c .
And so, since 1966, Citron has been an
entertainment writer, r role that Jus
changed considerably since his first years
on the Omaha World HerdJ staff. -
Uy work has changed quite a bit, but
it also has expanded.- For instance we1
didn't have movie reviews in the bepnn
ning," he explained.
Paid to enjoy
Tve always been an entertainer and a
writer and rrow rmi getting paid to do
tilings I enjoy " Citron said, There a defr
inite' creative aspect to lrrytwriting ;tnd
i also a great deal of ieportiagX--j: -5V
" Dcin an entertainment writer his ad
- vantages, because 'I not . everyone can call
Bob Hope and get to speak with him, he
said.
-1 czr bide no i chone and talk to him
without any of the usual red tape. He is a
super nice guy,w Citron said. "One time I
wanted to interview him on a putt-putt
golf course and he agreed riit away.r
"Johnny , Carson and Dick Cavttt axe
also very gracious to me. They know that
weVa!IMow Nebraskansheexplamed to remember, that with every differ-:
- - Most people in the entertainment bus- ejit waiter or waitress your whole evening
iness are prepared to be gracious when they . could take on an entirely different look."
know they're ing-to be interviewed,' According to Citron, he includes .the
Citron id ""But there's alwavt the excen- cood points in movies and television mo
tions to the rule" - .- grams and , what type of viewer , would
. Rude interviews , - ciijoy uic prouueuon.
tr. '. "I was supposed ' . to . view . JH1
Clavboudi's An Unmarried- Woman - and
Tm not like .Gene Shalit who will say
a certain movie is the pits, IH look for the
t then interview her the next morning. But u
r I wasn able tb see it when -scheduled and - ii eTt
good points and try to see what it has to
so when I told her that she promptly got
up and kit before the interview,, even
started; even though I had read up and was
more than able to do a professional inter?
Citron has been !n Omaha for 13 years
and does not plan to leave. "" T .
J Satisfied - .." -
"I'm pretty much satisfied with Omaha-
, view," net said, rit didn't leave wnat you I've sort of pst a goal to stay here and now
muM rail 9 favnraMft mmMtinn " J trut - rrrv. -irifnijwf!1 rt,f 1lirftM .
A good portion of Gtron's writing is televisint has been syndicated, things are'
reviewing movies, . restaurants and tele- going pretty well; ; ---- .
vision programs. t ,j ; "I-do;pIentyofrtraveling; about one
Tm what you could call a consumer rer. s week- out of every month and I get to New
viewer in that Tm very conscious of people -; York often enough to see six to 12 Broad
. and I have to describe and tell the things , wsy shows a year " Citron ssid.The only
that - tiiey: should knoWjf Citron" ssid ; thing is that my traveling is not at the pace
. .very area that I review is different, Td like it to be, it seems that Tm always
, but. you have to remember that for every -racing to catch a plane and then when t
person tneir-mood wa aliect whatever
.they are doing, so I try to leave any influ
ences I have at the door, he said.
. , Heslize dlTSsrences "
V vSVith restaursnts, ; you should sample
what they do best. Citron explained.
arrive all I have time for is to do my work
and then come on home. : - - - . :
Gtron's professon and perioral life are
both very hectic . and tiie-ccnsuniir.3.
7.fy work is not eaaly described; it's
wry complicated he said. 7Jy life and
Don't go into a steak house and expect to A. work are the same, they can't be separated,
fbd superior Ounea food and you also but Tm very satisfied wi'Ji what I do."
