Tartuffe
by Moliere

From a translation into English verse by Richard Wilbur Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Playwright Service, Inc.

This rollicking adaptation of Moliere's classic comedy sharply satirizes blind hypocrisy, religious piety, and deceit. Everyone in the Orgon family sees through the scoundrel Tartuffe's machinations and his attempts to dupe his gracious hosts of their wealth and woo their daughter. But is it too late to save the family from eviction and to keep the innocent from scandal and prison?

Synopsis:

The play is set in the home of Orgon, a wealthy, well respected gentleman who has enjoyed both financial and political success. His two children hope to marry soon but are living at the family home at present.

Their mother is dead and Orgon has remarried the young and beautiful Elmire.

Engulfed by the insecurity of middle-age, Orgon has become increasingly religious. Whilst in Church he has been befriended by an apparently sanctimonious and impoverished man named Tartuffe. Orgon is full of respect for Tartuffe’s pious ways. He has fulfilled his social, religious and personal duty by inviting Tartuffe to stay with his family.

Tartuffe appears intent on ensuring Orgon’s path to heaven is unobstructed. While Orgon devotes attention to celestial matters his wealth and his beautiful young wife will, of course, require protection. Tartuffe is most magnanimous and volunteers to ensure that neither fall into the wrong hands. Despite vociferous and desperate protests from his family, Orgon fails to see through the ruse until he has signed his worldly possessions into Tartuffe’s custody for safe-keeping.

Eventually, Tartuffe is unmasked for the scoundrel he is, and all are the wiser for their encounter.