It's hard to imagine that a play written 341 years ago could appeal to a modern audience, let alone speak to 21st century issues. But during the first week of August, audiences will want to make a pilgrimage to The Barnstormers in Tamworth to see what is not only a scorchingly relevant play, but one that has been called the greatest and most scandalous satire ever written. Tartuffe runs Tuesday, August 2 through Saturday, August 6 with curtain times at 8:00 p.m. each night.
The play is the energetic and feverishly-paced story of Orgon - a well-respected, successful businessman - who lives with his typically teenagey son and daughter and his second wife in a large, comfortable house buffeted by lofty status and a bounty of possessions. Into the action screech his children's sweethearts, his cranky mother, and his well-intentioned, but advice-giving brother-in-law. And running all the dysfunction and wackiness is Dorine the maid, who appears to be the keeper of the household brains. Enter Tartuffe, a humble, poor, homeless Christian pilgrim. He worms his way into the household and convinces Orgon to renounce his possessions, his comforts, and yes - his daughter, too - and hand them all over Tartuffe for safe-keeping - all in the name of God. What ensues is comic misadventure until Orgon is shown the possibility that maybe he's been duped by the world's biggest hypocrite.
Tartuffe is directed by Carl Wallnau, who sits on the faculty at Rutgers University and who, as scholar, brings precision and accuracy to the nuances of period drama. The play is translated by Miles Malleson in what is called a "free adaptation" which takes the starch out of Moliere's earlier translations and makes the play's quick banter easy and accessible to modern audiences.The play features Bob Bates as Orgon alongside Susan Riskin who returns to the Barnstormers stage to play his testy mother. Riskin debuted at the Barnstormers 41 years ago, and she has been part of the company ever since--as director, actress, and acting workshop instructor for young people. Amanda Baker plays Orgon's trophy wife; Doug Shapiro, his teenaged son; and newcomer to The Barnstormers boards Sandra Hoyt, as Orgon's daughter, Mariane. John Rahal Sarrouf returns to the theater for his second season and plays the slimy hypocrite, Tartuffe. Penny Purcell and Jean Mar Brown steal the show as the all-knowing maid Dorine and the zany Flipote, while newcomer Christopher Conant and veteran Dale Place take their spot as Mariane's suitor and as Orgon's meddling brother-in-law, Cleante. Will Cabell returns to The Barnstormers as Monsieur Royal, the bailiff.
"Tartuffe is a warning that imposters are among us, and we must be ever vigilant to avoid the zealous hypocrites that would control our lives and take advantage of our faith," said director Wallnau. "It is as true today as it was three hundred and fifty years ago."
Moliere's play was first presented to King Louis XIV in 1664 but so shocked powerful members of the Catholic Church that it was banned from production. Moliere changed the name of the play to The Hypocrite, which did not help his hope for future productions. But in 1664 as today, scandal makes for good box office, and the French aristocracy was eager to see the play. Moliere found himself invited to many of their houses for private readings. Finally, it was read before the papal legate who believed it was simply a mocking of the Jansenists - the extreme conservatives of the Church. The Jansenists, on the other hand, believed Moliere was mocking the loose morals of the liberal side of the Church. And so everyone agreed that it could be performed before audiences.
"The themes of Tartuffe hit chillingly close to home," said Interim Artistic Director, Bob Shea. "It's so easy for each side to see the foolishness of the other, but impossible for each to see itself as foolish. Moliere offers a blinding mirror to ourselves and to our society and asks us to question our own hypocrisy - or that of "others." But he does it in such a way that we laugh ourselves silly as we laugh at the antics in Orgon's household. It is a brilliant and highly entertaining play."
Tickets for Tartuffe are $25 for orchestra and $20 for balcony seats. The theater is air-conditioned and handicapped accessible. The seats are comfortable, the intermission cookies and lemonade unparalleled, and an evening at The Barnstormers is a true treat. Season and scrip tickets are available for the season - call (603) 323-8500 to reserve your tickets or to inquire about group rates.
For more information:
Donna Woodward
207 935-3959
