Theater Reviews

Feb 13, 2006 - Reno Little Theater's take on Moliere's "Scapino" is a high energy event

By Jack Neal

The Reno Little Theater's new presentation of Moliere's "Scapino" opened Friday night (2/10/06). It's a high energy affair with everyone on stage having a great time. Happily, that great time on stage translates from time to time to the audience.

The 17th century's very French Monsieur Moliere has had his farce doctored up and made more up-to-date by two chaps by the name of Frank Dunlop and Jim Dale. That's what happens when literary treasurers fall into the public domain and there are no heirs around to press charges.

Not that director Doug A. Mishler hasn't done his homework. He has and it shows. His cast adores what they are doing. Most all the pieces of a stage hit are in place. Everyone knows their lines. Each has a characterization that fits the farce's goings on. Doug Mishler and Anne Stewart's set is terrific; a Carmen Miranda hatful of color. Doug Mishler's (he's everywhere) lighting is excellent. This is community theater doing what it's supposed to do, engage people in theater and have them love doing it.

From a purely theatrical point of view, much of the show's humor (and it's considerable) is lost because lines are not delivered to the audience in a way that can be understood. Farce is more than being loud and mugging, and this is not a put down to the cast. The cast works hard to please and often does. It's my wish this hard-working cast would slow down just a bit and zing its humor so that it lands on target. That's a professional request and it's asking a lot.

My hat's off to any group of non-paid players who have a day job and feed their love of theater at night. Then open without previews (a horrible habit at top prices professional theater thinks is okay). This Reno Little Theater production has its faults but deserves attention and an audience.

Andrew Mowers is an over-the-top but engaging Scapino. Without a Scapino worth his salt, the show doesn't work. Mowers holds up his end of the bargain. As Argante, Nancy Podewils cross-genders this choice role with a good dose of grand timing. She delivers. Her diminutive size leads to much of the show's charm.

Ted Wynn scores as Sylvestro. George Tripplett, the show's zany Jerry Lewis of Lewis and Martin fame, invades this production and he almost never makes himself unwelcome. Zachary L.J. Bortot is an Ottavio to be reckoned with.

Zarah Borja (Zerbinetta), Chelsea Hackett (Giacinta), Steve Lombardo (Geronte), Emily Magnuson (nurse), Jocelyn Seeman (Leandro), Aariel Mowers (owner of Aariel's pub), and Tommy Vereen (waiter and bouncer at Aariel's pub) all do yeoman's duty in this fluffy, if scattered, RLT show.

The Reno Little Theater's "Scapino" can be seen February 10 and 11, 17 and 18, 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. and February 12, 19, and 26 at 2 p.m. at Hug High School, 2880 Sutro Street, Reno, Nevada. For information call 775-329-0661.