Through April 26
“Everything old is new again”—can still hold true—
So don’t turn away when Tartuffe, the current Cleveland Play House production, is described as a “classic French farce.” It is and it isn’t.
Ranjit Bolt’s updated translation of Molière’s 17th-century satire, Tartuffe, directed by Jason O’Connell, sets the story in 1980s sitcom land. The characters’ outlandish reactions mock fashion and reaction, teens and adults, greed, and vanity, and, well—everything.
And they do it in (unobtrusive) verse. It’s a lot of fun, especially after the first few minutes that it takes us to settle in and get to know the family being swindled by the seemingly pious Mr. Tartuffe. The conniving Tartuffe (a convincing Tom Ford) has charmed the wealthy Orgon (a blustering Chris Thorn) into taking him into his home.
Orgon’s wife Elmire (a gorgeous Briana Miller) and the family maid Dorine (a wise and wisecracking Meredith Nelson) quickly realize Tartuffe isn’t as holy as he pretends. Their schemes reveal Tartuffe’s hypocrisy and along the way engender physical comedy with laughable outcomes.
Orgon’s sweet “typical teenage” daughter Mariane (Christina McSheffrey) and her boyfriend Valere (Brendan Lowry), as well as Orgon’s volatile son Damis (Adam Ortega), Elmire’s wise brother Cleante (Calder Meis), and Oregon’s mother Mme. Pernelle (Kristine Zbornik), provide essential comic bits as well.
Other ensemble members include Madalyn Baker, Alex de Foy, Byron Johnson, and Jade Moujaes.
The 1980’s look (thanks to costume designer An-Lin Dauber) has the shoulder pads and bright colors down pat. Scenic designer Raul Abrego’s versatile set manages to look like a mansion and an evangelical altar as needed. Breaks between scenes in this no-intermission show offer welcome comic takes on pop tunes.
Bottom Line: CPH offers a lively engaging production of an old old story. It’s not all that hard to relate to characters imagined by Molière. (All we have to do is look at the news.) A bit of laughter goes a long way and sometimes, as the trite saying goes, it’s the best medicine.