E-Mail This Article to a Friend Molière in Texas? New Repertory Theatre updates Scapin BY SALLY CRAGIN

Back in the 1650s, when Molière began writing and acting, tragedy was the order of the day. Comedy was farce — foolishness for the masses, not the preferred entertainment of the court. In the course of his career, he elevated comedy to satire, and that earned him the friendship of the intelligentsia, as well as that of Louis XIV, who once danced in one of the ballets presented at court by Molière’s company.

But by 1671, when he wrote Scapin, Molière was at a low ebb. "This play happens right at the end of his life," explains Rick Lombardo, producing artistic director at New Repertory Theatre, who with area co-lyricist/composer Haddon Kime has penned a new musical production of Scapin that, starring John Kuntz, will open next Friday. "He’s written Tartuffe in verse, he’s written sophisticated plays and lost the favor of Louis. He’s also alienated the Catholic Church and will eventually be buried in unconsecrated soil."

At first glance, Lombardo found the play trifling. Scapin is a wily Neapolitan servant who bamboozles two miserly, authoritarian fathers out of money so that their sons can marry the women they love. The play is famous for a scene in which Scapin convinces one of the fathers that assassins are in pursuit and persuades him to hop into a sack. Then he pummels him savagely.

"Knowing Molière, I thought there had to be something I’m missing." Lombardo decided that the sack scene was the key to the play. "The person in the sack is everyone Molière is trying to get back at. It’s his violent response to tyranny and authoritarian control. So we began to see Scapin as a kind of anarchist that set us off on this journey."

Lombardo and Kime updated the setting to Naples, Texas. They’re keeping the commedia dell’arte style where, Lombardo explains, "the plot and characters are the framework for shtick and bits." And they decided to have some fun with current events, he adds, skewering both "the right wing and political correctness."

"We are in a target-rich climate," Kime chimes in. "We started putting our heads together and realized we’re very angry now and very politically motivated," Lombardo says. "Scapin seems like a fabulous vehicle to vent that and have some impact."

Kime’s score includes sincere love songs as well as comic turns like "Low Expectations," an "Elvisy" number for Scapin. (Sample lyric: "You’ll be riding high on low expectations/You’ll be happy as pie in all situations/It’s a wonder-drug cure without complications/Lo-o-o-ow expectations.") And the pair decided the two fathers (to be played by Ken Baltin and Steven Barkhimer) needed a presidential air. They’ve been cracking each other up by finding news of the day to skewer. "The play changes daily," says Kuntz, who was told by Lombardo that this Scapin was actually based on Kuntz’s own character. "It’s flattering. But, oh my God, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I’m gearing up for it by going to the gym and dieting. I’m not eating as much lard and ice cream as I usually eat. And I read the paper pretty intensely anyway, but I’ve been reading it more like Scapin — what would Scapin’s take on this be?"

Scapin is presented by New Repertory Theatre, 54 Lincoln Street in Newton Highlands, April 30 through May 30. Tickets are $27 to $42; call (617) 332-1646 or visit www.newrep.org