French farce returns to Oxford this week with La Compagnie
Molière d’Oxford performing ’Les Fourberies de Scapin’ at
Wadham’s Moser theatre. The rarity of French theatre performed in
French should deservedly draw a good crowd as did last year’s ’Le
Malade Imaginaire’. One of Moliere’s best loved plays, Les Fourberies de Scapin is
a farce set in Italy. On the return of their fathers from abroad,
Léandre and Octave are both faced with the prospect of marrying
two unknown women. Since Léandre has just proposed to a young
gypsy called Zerbinette and Octave has recently married Hyacinte,
they seek the help of the wily servant Scapin to resolve their
problems… Well cast in the challenging and unrelenting role of Scapin,
Christophe Schramm’s engaging and memorable performance is reason
enough to see the play. His good looks and charm as the scheming
Scapin are irresistible. The rest of the cast, not all native
speakers, do very well in portraying the humour and energy of
this demanding play and the initial impact is maintained
throughout. The use of set and levels is effective in its simplicity.
Equally, the costumes are basic yet functional and don’t detract
from the acting. A few well chosen elements of directorial
interpretation are instrumental in making this production more
suited to and enjoyable for its audience. For those with dubious
French skills, the physical nature of the play still undoubtedly
entertains, and when combined with the scene by scene synopsis
given out at the start it is possible for all to follow and
enjoy. All in all, whilst seeming like an obligation for Europhiles,
this opportunity to see French theatre is a chance which should
not be missed and happily turns out to be a real pleasure to
watch.ARCHIVE: 1st week TT 2004
Fourberries out of ten? No, at least an eight
