M 10 F4. A cafe bar.
Inspired, at some distance, by Molière's Les Fourberies de
Scapin, this 'comic madness' is set in present day Naples. Ottavio's
and Leandro's fathers are away, leaving their sons in the care of guardians
- Scapino and Sylvestro. Ottavio marries Giacinta and when he learns
that his father plans to 'marry him off' he seeks Scapino's help. The
spirit of the play is evident at the outset, when a slapstick sequence
is accompanied by a crazy song made up from the menu at an Italian restaurant.