Tartuffe

by Moliere, Curtis Hidden Page

Overview

When the seemingly perfect Tartuffe ingratiates himself with the wealthy Orgon and his mother Madame Pernelle, he is soon welcomed into their home and into their lives. His combination of charm, respectability and religious authority proves so irresistible that he is eventually promised the hand of Orgon’s daughter in marriage. But the rest of Orgon’s family have grave doubts – is there more to Tartuffe than meets the eye? When the threat of eviction for the family and imprisonment for Orgon become apparent, is it all too late to find out? This hilarious and irreverent whirlwind of lies, religious hypocrisy and family feuds features one of theatre’s most perfect comedy creations, the beguiling Tartuffe.

"An excellent new translation...Full marks all round here – I haven’t laughed so much since One Man, Two Guvnors and I’d certainly speak of Tartuffe very happily in the same breath. Fast, furious and fabulously funny." - The Good Review

"It is good fun and I suspect old Moliere might have enjoyed the theatricality of the thing."- Daily Mail

"The unwritten rule of translating comedy, according to Chris Campbell, is that if you lose a laugh here and there, you are allowed to add one elsewhere. His witty, up-to-date translation is the strong foundation of this gloriously funny production" - The Stage

"It feels as fresh as ever... a triumph." - Birmingham Mail

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781420926088
Publisher:	Neeland Media
Publication date:	10/05/2005
Pages:	88
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.21(d)

About the Author

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin Molière (1622-73), the French actor-manager and dramatist, was one of the theatre's greatest comic classics. Inspired by traditions of French farce and the 'commedia dell'arte', he courted controversy with his satiric commentaries on the society of his time and on eternal human foibles, but was saved by the patronage of the 'Sun King' Louis XIV.

ChrisCampbell read English and French at St Edmund Hall, Oxford. He is currently the Literary Manager at the Royal Court Theatre. Christopher has worked as an actor in Canada, France and Belgium, as well as here in the UK.

Editorial Reviews

The new Steiner Tartuffe offers welcome relief from all the rhymed translations that make Moliere sound like a third-rate Restoration poet while creating the (false) impression that verbal dexterity and wit trump all other values in the great comic playwright's dramaturgy. Steiner's crisp, lucid prose—her adroitly balanced sentences are especially effective at conveying the slippery rhetoric of Tartuffe's seductions—unfolds the plot and characters of Moliere's play with an unaccustomed clarity, presenting the ideological clashes of the play with a bluntness many other translations attenuate. Roger Herzel's Introduction is well-focused for those encountering Molière for the first time and informed throughout by his own excellent scholarship. --Jim Carmody, University of California, San Diego

This dynamic new translation of Tartuffe conveys the subject matter of Moliere's perennial masterpiece in a way that resonates for contemporary audiences. Prudence Steiner has modernized and revitalized the text, making its burning and scandalous tone stand out, as it does in the original French. The thorough introduction to the play skillfully invites the reader into the dark and controversial world of Tartuffe. --Florent Masse, Princeton University

This translation is a welcome relief from the ungainly verse translations of Tartuffe that dominate the field. The introduction by Prof. Herzel is detailed, scholarly, and readable, and the translation of the play is stageable, therefore a good one to teach theatre students. --Dr. Rosemarie Bank, Kent State University

From the Publisher

This is an audio recording of a live stage performance of Pulitzer Prize winner Wilbur's celebrated translation of one of Molière's most popular plays, a 1664 social satire exposing hypocrisy in the Catholic Church. Timing proves to be the cornerstone of this successful production as Brian Bedford, John de Lancie, Martin Jarvis, Alex Kingston, and seven other talented actors keep a steady and believable rhythm throughout their performances, responding to one another with just the right comedic timing. A fantastic listen recommended for those who enjoy full-cast productions, audio dramas, and classic satire. [See Publisher Spotlight, p. 76.—Ed.]—Lance Eaton, Peabody, MA

Library Journal