A.C.T. Extends SCAPIN Once More, Now Thru 10/23

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) announced a second week of extension performances for its 2010-11 season opener, Molière's Scapin, which marks the return of two-time Tony Award winner and A.C.T. favorite Bill Irwin to its stage. The additional performances include 8 p.m. performances Tuesday, October 19, through Saturday, October 23, and a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, October 23. Robert Hurwitt of San Francisco Chronicle raves about Irwin's irreverent take on Molière's classical comedy: "This is, pound for pun, the funniest show of the year . . . Irwin alone provides a full two hours of high-class hilarity, with his perfect comic timing, irresistible scampish persona, and an elastic body forever moving in several directions at once. But his Scapin is a generous gag-fest, packed with rib-tickling delights from his golden-age-of-clowning stage reunion with Geoff Hoyle and other early Pickle Family Circus mates to the contributions of A.C.T. regulars, returnees, and newcomers. . . . Irwin delivers a bounteous gift to the region that nurtured his talent way back when." Pat Craig of San Jose Mercury News agrees: "A circus of silliness, smartly done . . . Only time will tell if Scapin will make it to the very shortlist of legendary ACT shows, but by the time opening night was over Wednesday, it was clear the comedy was one of the funniest plays to hit the American Conservatory stage." Jerry Friedman of KGO Radio adds that Scapin is "a comedy masterpiece . . . Irwin owns the stage." With the extension, Scapin plays now-October 23, 2010, at the American Conservatory Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Tickets (starting at $10) are available by calling the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or at www.act-sf.org.

In this lively baggy-pants comedy, the rascally title character balances his penchant for mayhem and mischief with a promise to help two pairs of wide-eyed lovers. Irwin-who adapted (with Mark O'Donnell), performs the title role, and directs-whips commedia dell'arte, live music, and his trademark sophisticated clowning into a frenzy, transforming this 17th-century farce of mistaken identities and mishaps into a sparkling theatrical event perfect for all ages. This production also reunites Irwin with several of his former cohorts from San Francisco's Pickle Family Circus: celebrated Bay Area actor Geoff Hoyle takes on the role of Scapin's curmudgeonly master, Geronte; Randy Craig (who has worked with the San Francisco Mime Troupe) composed the music for Scapin and performs in the show; Keith Terry joins the performers as a percussionist; and ODC/San Francisco choreographer Kimi Okada serves as movement consultant.

Scapin is just the beginning! A.C.T.'s 2010-11 season continues with the West Coast premiere of Marcus; or The Secret of Sweet (October 29-November 21, 2010), the finale of The Brother/Sister Plays trilogy, written by the unstoppable Tarell Alvin McCraney and hailed as "the greatest piece of writing by an American playwright under 30 in a generation or more" (Chicago Tribune). Magic Theatre and Marin Theatre Company will produce the other two plays in the trilogy in a first-time three-theater collaboration with A.C.T. Information about the other two plays and about how to purchase tickets can be found at www.brothersisterplays.org. The new year brings the West Coast premiere of Bruce Norris's razor-sharp comedy Clybourne Park (January 20-February 13, 2011), which Entertainment Weekly calls "a completely audacious, architecturally ingenious entertainment." Next up is Harold Pinter's most provocative play, The Homecoming (March 3-27, 2011), directed by longtime Pinter collaborator and A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff. And you haven't experienced Jean-Paul Sartre's existential masterpiece No Exit until you've seen the groundbreaking multimedia version by Canada's The Virtual Stage and Electric Theatre Company, which makes its U.S. premiere at A.C.T. April 7-May 1, 2011. The 2010-11 season culminates in the much-anticipated world premiere of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City, a new musical based on Maupin's beloved books and created by writer Jeff Whitty and director Jason Moore (the team behind Avenue Q) and Jake Shears and John Garden (the musical minds behind the glam-rock band Scissor Sisters). A.C.T. brings the iconic saga to San Francisco live May 17-June 19, 2011. The season also includes A.C.T.'s annual nonsubscription holiday treat, A Christmas Carol (December 2-24, 2010). To subscribe or to receive a season brochure, please call 415.749.2250 or log on to www.act-sf.org.