There's no escapin' Scapin. Bill Irwin and Mark O'Donnell's zany adaptation of Moliere's already zany farce has been making the rounds of regional theatres and now comes to Arizona Theatre Company, having begun previews Apr. 11 for an Apr. 17 opening and a run through May 2 at ATC's Tucson home. After that, Scapin will scram to Phoenix and play there May 8-23.

ATC Artistic director David Ira Goldstein will direct Scapin, which started at Seattle Rep and later played at the Roundabout's Laura Pels space in New York.

Moliere's 1671 comedy The Tricks of Scapin (alternately titled The Mischievous Machinations of Scapin) tells of a wily servant who helps his young master win the girl of his dreams over the objections of fathers, rivals and others. The Scapin character is drawn from some of the same sources as Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Irwin and O'Donnell's is a very free adaptation, however, featuring an organist, modern punchlines, signs that warn of "exposition," and a Keystone Kops-style chase.

Starring in the Arizona mounting are Bob Sorenson (Scapin), Jeff Steitzer, R. Hamilton Wright, Kristin Ketterer (Hyacinth), Kim Bennett, Leslie Law, Andy Paterson, Lillie Richardson and Warren Jackson. Designing the show are Drew Boughton (sets), Laura Crow (costumes), Tracy Odishaw (lighting) and Brian Jerome Peterson (sound). Patricia Wilcox choreographs.

New vaudevillian Irwin last appeared in New York in Hip Hop Wonderland Off Broadway in May 1996, and last appeared on Broadway in Fool Moon, December 1995. Other Moliere plays include The Misanthrope, The Miser and The Imaginary Invalid.

For tickets ($18.50-$27.50) to Scapin call (520) 622-2823.