Scapino, or Scapin, is a

zanni Zanni (), Zani or Zane is a character type of commedia dell'arte best known as an astute servant and a trickster. The Zanni comes from the countryside and is known to be a "dispossessed immigrant worker".Rudlin, John. ''Commedia dell'arte: An Act ...

character from the commedia dell'arte. His name is related to the Italian word "scappare" (to escape) and his name translates to “little escape artist” in reference to his tendency to flee from fights, even those he himself begins. He has been dated to the last years of the 16th century, and his creation is sometimes credited to Niccolò Barbieri.
Niccolò Barbieri
' He is a Bergamo native, and was popularized by the actor Francesco Gabrielli.

Costume

Later versions show his costume with green (or sometimes turquoise) and white stripes, similar to Mezzetino's red and white, but Callot shows Scapino in an outfit similar to the early

Brighella Brighella (in Bergamasque dialect: ''Brighèla'') is a comic, masked character from the Italian theatre style Commedia dell'arte. His early costume consisted of loosely fitting, white smock and pants with green trim and was often equipped with a ...

's, white with a tabaro and a sword on his belt, and topped with a torn hat adorned with feathers. He is in fact a variant on Brighella, more cowardly and less clever. Some people call him Brighella's brother, some his son.

Character

Scapino tends to make a confusion of anything he undertakes and metaphorically "flees" from one thought, activity or love interest to another, as his name implies, although he usually will return to it – eventually. Self-preservation and self-interest are his main concerns. This is not to say his wits are without merit. In

Molière Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (, ; 15 January 1622 (baptised) – 17 February 1673), known by his stage name Molière (, , ), was a French playwright, actor, and poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the French language and worl ...

's play ''

Les Fourberies de Scapin ''Scapin the Schemer'' (french: Les Fourberies de Scapin) is a three-act comedy of intrigue by the French playwright Molière. The title character Scapin is similar to the archetypical Scapino character. The play was first staged on 24 May 1671 in ...

'', Zerbinette mentions what “a clever servant éandrehas. His name is Scapin. He is a most wonderful man and deserves the highest praise.” He is a schemer and scoundrel, and takes a certain pride in these facts. He was originally a masked character, although later versions usually have the actor simply powder his face. He is traditionally shown with a hooked nose and a pointed beard. Like Brighella, Scapino is a Jack-of-all-trades and depends on the needs of the scenario for his occupation. Scapino is depicted musically in

William Walton Sir William Turner Walton (29 March 19028 March 1983) was an English composer. During a sixty-year career, he wrote music in several classical genres and styles, from film scores to opera. His best-known works include ''Façade'', the cantat ...

's 1940 composition, '' Scapino: A Comedy Overture''. A 1974 play of the same name adapted by

Jim Dale Jim Dale (born James Smith; 15 August 1935) is an English actor, composer, director, narrator, singer and songwriter. In the United Kingdom he is known as a pop singer of the 1950s who became a leading actor at the National Theatre. In Britis ...

and Frank Dunlop from ''

'' by

opened at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York in 1974.

Examples of Scapino's character

From

's ''

:'' SCAPIN: To tell you the truth, there are few things impossible to me when I once set about them. Heaven has bestowed on me a fair enough share of genius for the making up of all those neat strokes of mother wit, for all those ingenious gallantries to which the ignorant and vulgar give the name of impostures; and I can boast, without vanity, that there have been very few men more skilful than I in expedients and intrigues, and who have acquired a greater reputation in the noble profession. But, to tell the truth, merit is too ill rewarded nowadays, and I have given up everything of the kind since the trouble I had through a certain affair that happened to me. OCTAVE: How? What affair, Scapin? SCAPIN: An adventure in which justice and I fell out. OCTAVE: Justice and you? SCAPIN: Yes; we had a trifling quarrel. SILVESTRE: You and justice? SCAPIN: Yes. She used me very badly; and I felt so enraged against the ingratitude of our age that I determined never to do anything for anybody. But never mind; tell me about yourself all the same. ___ ''Scapin pretends to be mortally wounded and begs forgiveness for his wrongdoings.'' SCAPIN. (to GÉRONTE.) It is you, Sir, I have offended the most, because of the beating with the cudgel which I.... GÉRONTE. Leave that alone. SCAPIN. I feel in dying an inconceivable grief for the beating which I.... GÉRONTE. Ah me! be silent. SCAPIN. That unfortunate beating that I gave.... GÉRONTE. Be silent, I tell you; I forgive you everything. SCAPIN. Alas! how good you are. But is it really with all your heart that you forgive me the beating which I...? GÉRONTE. Yes, yes; don't mention it. I forgive you everything. You are punished. SCAPIN. Ah! Sir, how much better I feel for your kind words. GÉRONTE. Yes, I forgive you; but on one condition, that you die. SCAPIN. How! Sir? GÉRONTE. I retract my words if you recover. SCAPIN. Oh! oh! all my pains are coming back.

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Scapino, in Italian and English

"The Impostures of Scapin" on Project Gutenberg
Stupid Zanni class characters Fictional Italian people