The 2008-09 Triad Stage season ends with a bang with the 17th century play by Molière. The director's notes (and personal experience these past few years) say this is only the 2nd pre-mid-19th century play performed at Triad Stage; they are dedicated to the more "modern drama". So, this 1664 play gets a modern revival. The French-to-English translation utilized is from 1870, but there are marked nods to modernity throughout: iPods, fist bumps, Honeymooners references, all make it "the bomb", er, I mean "da bomb".
The focus?
The Golden Mean
A main theme in Tartuffe is one of Aristotle’s philosophical theories, which states that virtue is a point between two vices. For example, love should be neither obsessive nor careless. And, Aristotle said:
“It is better to rise from life as from a banquet— neither thirsty nor drunken.
The plot? The background?
Orgon is a very happy man. He has a lovely family, a beautiful new wife, an incredible fortune and a spiritual advisor who promises him eternal bliss. Unfortunately, he is about to lose it all. He’s fallen into the trap of a pious imposter, the hilarious hypocrite Tartuffe. Preaching piety, two faced Tartuffe is plotting to steal Orgon’s fortune, marry his daughter, seduce his wife and take over his home. Can anything stop him? Triad Stage presents one of the world’s funniest comedies and dares to shake up a theatrical classic to find its very contemporary heart.
Really one of the more uplifting and mood-elevating plays seen here. This is not to say that previous ones were bores, but this was the first in a while to elicit guffaws, giggles, and outright laughs throughout.
A joy. What a way to finish a season!
0 comments:
Post a Comment