A production of Molière’s Tartuffe, directed by Sylvaine Strike of the Fortune Cookie Theatre Company, with translation by Richard Wilbur, will be staged at the Baxter Flipside from Tuesday April 18 to Saturday April 29.
Tartuffe is a swindler disguised as a paragon of piety who manipulates his way into Orgon’s house and unleashes his lecherous reign.
Exploring the way in which people are easily manipulated by symbols of power and honeyed words, Tartuffe is one of Molière’s masterpieces, an uneasy comedy with a potent message at its core.
Controversial when it was first performed in 1664, the play was closed down, censored, and Molière questioned by the religious authorities of the time, who saw in it an audacious critique of hypocrisy within the church.
Making his long awaited return to the stage, Neil McCarthy plays Orgon, with Khutjo Green as his wife, Elmire. Craig Morris takes on the title role of Tartuffe, and theatre stalwart Vanessa Cooke plays the housekeeper, Dorine. Other cast members include Anele Situlweni, Vuyelwa Maluleke, Adrian Alper, William Harding and Camilla Waldman. There is an age restriction of 16 years.
Tickets cost from R130 to R160. Book through Computicket.
