Lovers try to meet in college comedy 'Scapino!'

Alex Matute and James Culbertson

As part of the Moorpark College Summer Arts Festival, the Theatre Arts Department will present the family slapstick comedy "Scapino!" July 19 to Aug. 5 at the Performing Arts Center, 7075 Campus Road.

Thursday through Saturday performances will be at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

Producers describe the play as "Hang on to your seats, and don't forget to duck for flying pasta. This comic masterpiece begins with a song made up from the Italian menu as two friends, whose fathers' threaten their natural love by arranging their marriages, turn to Scapino, a wily servant, to fix the dire situation. Chases, wordplay, mistaken identities and, of course, a happy ending make this play a rip-roaring good time."

The cast includes Moorpark resident Ryan Winred as Scapino; Sarah Guyadeen as Sylvia, his partner in crime; Frank Payfer and Ian Freeman as the two grumpy old men; and Bonnyjean Hoffert, Jillian Bischoff, Alex Matute and James Culbertson as star-crossed young lovers.

Other cast members are Hannah Bailey, Nick Noble, Winston Clark, Vincent Miller, David Harris, Kire' Horton, Lindsay Macleod, Jessica Kent and Elise Loprieno.

Adult tickets are $16. Students, seniors and staff are $9 and children under 12 are $8.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at (805) 378-1485 or going online to www.MoorparkCollege.edu/theater.