Photo by Roland Finger

A French Tickler

By Roland Finger
Staff Writer

If you are fan of Molière, you must see the MSUM’s “Tartuffe.” If you are not yet a fan of Molière, then you really must see MSUM’s “Tartuffe.” Director Jennifer Tuttle’s production of this drawing-room farce is a hoot. The play stays true to Molière’s poetic language, snazzy repartee and comic zeal.

If you have a thing for sassy French maids (and who doesn’t?), then you will love Amber Bracken as Dorine, who can wave a dusting fan with flirtatious swirls and dish out biting comments to her employer. She has a sharp tongue and ready wit, making this character one of the great comedic female figures who shows that employees are often much more intelligent than their employers. The patriarch, Orgon, against his wife and children’s inclinations, has brought a supposedly pious pauper, Tartuffe, into his home and becomes overly dependent on his spiritual advice. He fawns over the house-guest, worrying about his comfort and health. It’s as if Orgon has found a male spiritual lover, replacing his wife, which is perfect for Tartuffe, who has his eyes set on the MILF wife, Elmire. Eric Morris plays Organ with wonderful gusto and timing, displaying passionate devotion to Tartuffe’s sham religiosity. Kelly Nelson makes a great Elmire, who scurries and squirms to evade Tartuffe’s lecherous advances.

The play makes us wait before we meet the infamous Tartuffe, who is built up to great effect, making the audience eager to finally see him. Who can this mystery man be? And when finally he appears, he is perfectly sleazy, wonderfully duplicitous. Once Mr. Fake Jesus Christ himself enters, your expectations are thoroughly rewarded. Nick Kaspari is Tartuffe, the crafty, venal, hypocritical con-artist who has designs on the wife, the daughter and the family fortune. He feels the wife up, as if he has six groping hands, and borders on a live sex act on stage. Lock up your money, jewels and sexual virtue. Tartuffe is on the prowl, paving the way for figures like Elmer Gantry and other womanizing preachers.

The play provides brilliant commentary on how easily religious pretenders can gain standing and power in a community. We’ve all met money grubbers who fondle their crucifixes as they try to pry our wallets and purses open. We’ve all seen religious leaders who worry about their own asses and pocketbooks long before they care for those who are dis-empowered.

Tartuffe is a villain, but there is something attractive in his blatant disregard for morality. Those he gulls probably deserve it. I wonder if the same can be said about the falsely pious who lead several of our local religious institutions.

Believing that costumes should be characters in and of themselves, Ricky Greenwell, the costume designer, places women in gravity-defying corsets and men in shiny leather.
The costumes are frilly, busty, snug, and curvy, just the way that Molière would have wanted. 

The plays interludes are filled with catchy harpsichord versions of classic pop from the Doors to the Beatles, giving this work a modern flavor, while keeping its Renaissance French charm. You must see the plays police officer, who has a punk-rockish Reno 911 way about him. Do not be a poser. Check out “Tartuffe.”

Questions and comments: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

IF YOU GO:
What: “Tartuffe”
When: April 13-16 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: MSUM’s Gaede Stage
Info: 218.477.2271