Scapino!

Inspired at some distance, by Moliere's Les Fourberies de Scapin, this 'comic madness' is set in present-day Naples. Ottavio and Leandro are a couple of friends whose fathers have had to go away on a business trip and leave their sons in the care of guardians - Scapino and Sylvestro. During his father's absense Ottavio has fallen in love with, and married, the pretty Giacinta. Now he learns his father has returned with plans to 'marry him off'. Scapino's help is sought and on this peg is hung a series of wild plots and counterplots. The spirit of the play is evident at the outset, when a slapstick sequence is accompanied by a crazy song made up from the menu at an Italian restaurant. As the play ends the audience are drawn in with a repeat of the song and a Curtain speech by Scapiano.