Tracker Pixel for Entry

​Tartuffe or not Tartuffe?

Theatre | February 14th, 2018

Tartuffe - photograph by Justin Eiler, NDSU photographerBy Nathan Roy
bardsdream@gmail.com

You are absolutely right. The title is not “To be or not to be” from the famous Shakespeare soliloquy in "Hamlet." I won’t be talking about Shakespeare particularly. I will expound the relevance of this silly wordplay, if I may.

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, the man known by his stage name, Molière, was born six years after Shakespeare’s death. He wrote plays such as "The Misanthrope," "The Miser," and "The Doctor in Spite of Himself," but his best-known work is "Tartuffe." During Molière’s era, the piece was considered to be controversial, making "Tartuffe" a very notorious play, the satire of religion and high society being two factors making it so.

It truly was an amazing time for theatre from the late 16th century onward. Late Medieval theatre had been transitioning to Renaissance, when avant-garde creativity was the mood for that age. Shakespeare would single-handedly lead the way with his flowing use of iambic pentameter, while other new types of theatre emanated. This included commedia dell’arte, a style Molière mastered and adapted.

"Tartuffe," with the second version’s premiering title "The Impostor," started a social revolution of sorts. I say version due to censure that occurred. Molière had to revise this work to appease the piety (a theme in the play) of the clergy. They were not at all amused by his making fun of them.

"Tartuffe" started a conversation about comedy’s importance and influence. Comedy was often expressed in theatre since ancient Greece. Molière believed comedy had its origins, with respect to the ancients, in religion, and made his case on the usefulness of comedy.

He ended by having to petition Louis XIV to have public performances of "Tartuffe." This is how "Tartuffe" became synonymous with hypocrite. In a sense, Molière was exposing the clergy’s actions against him, as he defended his writing as innocent enough. He administered due care in his revisions, so as to not confuse the public between that which is right and wrong, and tried his best not to entirely offend.

The eponymous character is deliberately depicted as a hypocrite, a man who takes advantage of his surroundings, using something he really couldn't care less for. In doing so, he causes chaos in a family. He seems thoroughly villainous in all he says and does, yet somehow imposes himself to be favored by the head of the household.

“To be or not to be” is relevant in this manner. A fuller question: who a person ought or ought not to be and whether they should live in hypocrisy, a demanding exploration of human nature and nurture.

In this classic comedy, the father believes Tartuffe is a holy man, but the family sees a charlatan. The more the family strives to convince the father that Tartuffe is false, the more power accrues to the hypocrite.

What will it take to change the father's mind? In this sparkling performance, the most gullible father, the purest wife, the craftiest scammer, the cleverest maid, the fiercest young hothead, and the most ridiculous young couple, all come together in a delightful, and thought-provoking contest of faith and reason.

IF YOU GO

Concordia College Theatre Presents Molière’s "Tartuffe"

February 15-17, 8pm; matinée February 18, 2pm

Frances Frazier Comstock Theatre - main stage

Box office, (218) 299-3314

IF YOU GO:

Theatre NDSU presents “Tartuffe”

February 22 nd – 24 th , February 28 th , and March 1-3, 7:30 p.m.

Walsh Studio Theatre in Askanase Hall.

Box Office at (701) 231-7969 or online at www.ndsu.edu/performingarts.

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comNorth Dakotans will take part in a nationwide civil rights rally on Thursday, July 17. Protests, marches, rallies and acts of service are scheduled in Bismarck, Bottineau, Devils Lake,…

Back-to-school season is on the horizon, but there's still plenty of summer left. Check out our favorite August attractions and events in North Dakota and western Minnesota. And if if you missed them, here are a few excellent May…

July 18-19, 25-26 and August 2-3North Dakota Horse Park, 5180 19th Ave. N., FargoLadies and gentlemen, prepare to place your bets — racing season is upon us! Not just horses will be racing this year; word on the street suggests…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com On July fourth, Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest took place at Coney Island. The winners, Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo, reigned victorious. Chestnut earned his 17th title by…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comWhy doesn’t the world require politicians to leave office at 60?Most of the leaders of countries, whether gods, fascists, democrats or socialists, are not doing very well these days. David Van…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gion and Simone Wairickgion@gmail.com The Red River Market returned to downtown Fargo on Saturday, July 12. The event will take place every Saturday except July 19. (That date will be moved to Sunday, July 20, due to the…

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comThe Moorhead Public Library will offer three free, all-ages outdoor concerts featuring regional bands this summer. The series begins on June 12 with the Meat Rabbits, a group that blends…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comPhoto by Sabrina Hornung Wing, North Dakota is a town of 132 located about an hour northwest of Bismarck on Highway 36. There’s a shiny new Cenex on the intersection of the highway and the high…

By Deb Wallworkdwallwork@icloud.comI first met Catherine Mulligan at a party at her house. It was a small gathering, spontaneous, just a few people over for dinner. Directed toward a stack of plates and bowls and a big pot warming…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comPhoto by Yvonne Denault There is something intimate and personal about plays. Even in our age of multimillion dollar Hollywood productions and droves of streaming services, watching actors…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

The drug that keeps re-purposing itselfBy Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com There is a drug that is getting a lot of attention nowadays all over the world. It has various commercial names (Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus), but…

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson@rocketmail.com Working in the Bakken oil fields of the Williston Basin is so different from my home in Fargo. I'm not judging, because the people working and living in western North Dakota are very…