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Tartuffe (Mooney) (short version)

Moliere's classic comedy satirizes religious hypocrisy, blind piety, and deceit, and this adaptation captures these themes in playful irreverent rhyme.

More information

Description

  • Short Play
  • Dramatic Comedy
  • 40 minutes

  • Target Audience: Adult
  • Cautions: Strong Language

  • Performance Group:
  • College Theatre / Student, Community Theatre, Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups
When the religious hypocrite Tartuffe ingratiates himself into the good graces of Orgon and his mother Mme. Pernelle, he is taken into their home and promised Orgon's daughter's hand in marriage (even as he secretly attempts to seduce Orgon's wife, Elmire). Everyone else in the family sees through Tartuffe's pose, and his machinations and hypocrisies are eventually exposed, but is it too late to save the family from eviction and to keep Orgon from being thrown in prison?

Moliere's classic comedy satirizes religious hypocrisy, blind piety, and deceit, and this adaptation captures these themes in playful irreverent rhyme.

A full-length version of this play is also available for licensing. 
REVIEWS:

"Accomplished and funny... Moliere would doubtless have enjoyed all of the contemporary guffaws that Mooney's irreverent version of this timeless comedy provokes from a modern audience."

 Chicago Tribune

"Timothy Mooney's clever translation of the French rhyming couplets pokes gentle fun at Moliere's poetic form with forced rhymes the actors speak with exaggerated delivery and physicality...this lowbrow spoof is delightful summer fun."

 Bay Weekly

"A rousing good romp...Mooney's adaptation cuts the treacle and presents the audience with the rich meaty bits."

 Amanda Gunther, DCMetroTheatreArts.com

"The action zips along at Road-Runner velocity... A gleefully giddy romp that sacrifices none of Moliere's insightful satire... Remarkably accessible and attitude-free... On the night I attended, the audience (me included) laughed heartily -- and isn't that the real test of a comedy?"

 Windy City Times

"Startlingly effective, assuredly paced, and very, very funny."

 The Tech (MIT)

"[An] impressive original adaptation... Mooney has admirably bridged the centuries, staying true to the sense and semblance of Moliere while bringing the play a contemporary feel with minimal anachronism... He has a strong sense of story, meaning and character and serves them well."

 News Sun

"[Mooney's] language is a delight."

 Deborah Klugman, LA Weekly

"A snappy new translation... Mooney is quite skillful at massaging the iambs and bringing a contemporary twinkle to the choice of words and rhyme."

 Hoyt Hilsman, Back Stage West

Characters

  • Casting: 5M, 5F, 2M or F

Available Material

Name Price
Tartuffe (Mooney) (short version) Script Order Now

When the religious hypocrite Tartuffe ingratiates himself into the good graces of Orgon and his mother Mme. Pernelle, he is taken into their home and promised Orgon's daughter's hand in marriage (even as he secretly attempts to seduce Orgon's wife, Elmire). Everyone else in the family sees through Tartuffe's pose, and his machinations and hypocrisies are eventually exposed, but is it too late to save the family from eviction and to keep Orgon from being thrown in prison?

Moliere's classic comedy satirizes religious hypocrisy, blind piety, and deceit, and this adaptation captures these themes in playful irreverent rhyme.

A full-length version of this play is also available for licensing. 

$24.95

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