Tartuffe

By Robert Iles - 1st Jun 2006

Ranjit Bolt's transalation and adaptation of Moliere's wonderful play is a lively affair that retains the original elements of satire and farce whilst dragging the language and rhythm into a modern idiom. I like it!

In this story, the lord of the manor, Orgon, is being dupped by a religious fraud, Tartuffe, whilst his family try to persuade him that he's gone mad! It comes to a head when he offers his daughter's hand to the 'monster' and finally throws out his own son and makes a gift of his house and lands to Tartuffe. He is only brought to his senses when his wife proves to him that Tartuffe wants to bed her - by then it all appears to be too late and Tartuffe attempts to evict Orgon from what has now become "his" house. The twist in the tail wouldn't work today but was masterly in its time and can still raise a smile as the good King makes everything right again.

The impressive set gave plenty of scope for action but this was, fortunately,kept to a minimum - the play is one about words rather than deeds and the acting style offered more than a nod to the traditional with a lot of face-the-audience and highly stylised characterisations - all highly appropriate and effective, in fact the time seemed to whizz by once Orgon appeared.

Particularly impressive were Mark Leipacher as Orgon, Susannah Holland as his daughter and Finnian Hanlon as his son - they caught the mood and the style perfectly and maintained it throughout. What didn't work for me were the act breaks (over long), the strobe (illuminated the audience rather than the stage), the disco number (funny but inappropriate) and the Officer played as an Elvis impersonation (I assume that was the intention).

In all an entertaining night with some real high points and no great lows. Diolch yn fawr.