Word: scapino
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...Scapino...
While the entire Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) troupe should be laved in a shower of praise, the master builder of this exercise in high style rates top honors. British Director Frank Dunlop (Sherlock Holmes, Scapino) has assembled in the borough of Brooklyn the kind of radiant acting company that Robert Morley promises to U.S. tourists who fly to London. This is the nucleus of an American counterpart to the Royal Shakespeare Company or the British National Theater. Let us pray for its robust survival. T.E. Kalem
David Eddy (Scapino) is a case in point. Eddy is a fine actor and his pirate imitation in the second act marks the highlight of the show. But Eddy does not possess the polished energy needed to maintain two solid hours of high-flying farce. The part crys out for Jim Dale in a very special way. While certain parts have been stamped by the individuals who made them famous--Liza Minelli in Cabaret, Zero Mostel in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, to name two--rarely is a part actually created for a specific stage...
...Prince Spaghetti Day") seems an unnecessary intrusion. Unfortunately the set, with its scaffolds and dangling ropes, is never fully explored. John Magoun's lighting is downright incompetent; areas go dark and light quite abruptly for no discernible reason. Anne Higonnet's costumes help establish an endearingly seedy atmosphere, although Scapino himself should show a bit more panache and the two ingenues should, to be blunt, show a bit more skin...
...would appear that once again the blame for the mainstage's mediocrity must fall on the choice of the script. The case of Scapino is certainly talented; why such a difficult project was picked remains a mystery. Liz breaks up with Dick, Harvard loses to Yale and the chicken crosses the road. Today the Harvard Dramatic Club chooses its spring productions; it is hoped that their decisions on next year's slots are better tailored to the strengths and weaknesses of student actors...