SYRACUSE - Love doesn't always work the way people want.
That's certainly the case in Wawasee High School Theatre Department's production of "Scapino!"
According to provided information on the play, the show "uses slapstick humor, circus techniques, crazy asides to the audience and timeless comedy to present the story of two young men in love. Unfortunately, they have fallen in love with someone other than the young women chosen by their formidable mothers."
To get out of the trouble they find themselves in, they ask Scapino to help them out. Scapino is a master of trickery and cunning - leading to a whole lot of comedy.
Leading the cast are seniors Joel Hogle as Scapino, Chelsea Maule as Arganta, Emily Leismer as Giancinta and Katelyn Fall as Carla.
Hogle said Scapino is "kind of a prankster who finds himself quite clever."
In the play, Hogle said Scapino finds his two friends, Leoandro and Ottavio, in a relationship problem. Scapino works it out, but with hysterical consequences, Hogle said. The problem wasn't that complicated to begin with, but Leoandro and Ottavio make it worse.
Arganta is the mom of Ottavio, and Geronta is the mother of Leoandro. Andrea Hickman plays Geronta.
Maule said Arganta is a "really mean mom. She likes to control her son." She wants the "right wife" for her son. "She's very mean in the show," Maule said.
Hickman said her character is only semi-controlling, but not to the same degree as Arganta. She is obsessed with money and gets carried away if she has to give money away. She's also very ditzy.
Both Hickman and Maule said they based their characters just a little bit on their real moms. And both girls also said they are very much like the characters they play.
"We're very similar in many ways," said Hickman.
Maule said people who know her will see her in the character. Except for the being rich part and she's just not that mean, she said.
"I think I relate a lot to the ditzy area and people will say, 'That's so her!'" Hickman said.
Carla originally was Carlos. For Wawasee's production, he became a she and Katelyn Fall took over the role.
"I am a bum," Fall said of her role. "I am the bum of the show. I do a lot of physical comedy. I don't add much depth to the show, I just show up all over the show."
Her character keeps trying to get money out of the other characters by any means necessary.
"It's a real fun role," said Fall.
Her role also is interactive with the audience. "The whole first part, I get to come out in the audience and talk to them," she said. "I like that."
The comedy will be presented Nov. 2-3 at 7 p.m. in the WHS auditorium. It is directed by Amanda Whorley, assisted by Cyndi Thornburg and Deb Swayzee.
To get tickets for this general seating show, call the Wawasee office for details at 574-457-3147.
