Moliere wrote the script in French in the 1600’s, so I must applaud Richard Wilbur’s English verse version — which was clever but clear, with the actors fully understanding and buying into the emotions with glee and grimace. Director Blake Bowen keeps the cast moving (including some fun pillow/prop play) with a lively pace — and it’s just a bit over two hours, with a 10 minute intermission.
The set is practical with no set changes needed (Gabriella Castillo) and the costumes were wonderful (Chelle Peterson)— fancy frilly period delights — plus ringlets and wigs.
Dillon Smith gives us a lovable but gullible Orgon thoroughly duped by the pious Tartuffe, played with slimy insincerity by newcomer Chris Howe. Playing Orgon’s wife, Emily Stokes was the mistress of grimace and charm undergoing potential seduction by the interloper.
Erin Hoffman and Lewis C. Elson were perfection as the voices of common sense. Julianna Blain and Ethan Quates were fun in their lovers spats as they dealt with Daddy’s edict to cancel their wedding plans and marry his daughter to Tartuffe. Molly Sullivan rounded out the cast as Orgon’s mother, also caught under the holier-than-thou spell of shyster Tartuffe.
This fun show continues at 8 pm Thursday through Saturday and Sunday at 2pm at LCC’s Black Box Theatre. Park on Grand Avenue and enter the stage door on the south end of the Gannon Building. Tickets at the door (cash and credit cards accepted) or at https://secure.touchnet.com/C20118_ustores/web/store_cat.jsp?STOREID=40&CATID=314
$15 – general admission
$10 - seniors
$5 - students
Tickets sold at the door- .