Molière’s “Tartuffe” Continues to Be Relevant

By Wes Hessel with Beth Tomas

The Conspirators’ production of “Tartuffe, or, The Charlatan”, directed by William Bullion, is staged rather intimately; the set has rough scenery drawn on three muslin tarps, “pro punk” and anarchy graffiti scrawled across the drawings. Players make full use of the stage area and much takes place within five feet of the front row of stadium seating. Punk music (mostly, if not all, Ramones) plays at the beginning of each scene and sometimes throughout.

Each character has a makeup that seems to be a cross between kabuki and clown style, with heavily lined eyes, and overt expression of typically subtle techniques – bold forehead age lines, drawn-on mustaches, and visible contouring, to name a few; sometimes the application  appears purposely sloppy.

The story is of how a family is fraught over how a couple members (patriarch and his mother) are being taken in by a religious charlatan (Tartuffe) and the fallout from there. The language used is 18th century, with some modern language and cursing mixed in at strategic points.

Lines are delivered rather uniquely: the speaking character makes and holds eye contact with a member of the audience (referred to as “neighbors”), though they are clearly speaking to one of the other characters. A couple of times the actors engage physically with an audience member in a sort of wink and nod manner – at the same time all other characters are looking at the speaker. The dialogue switches between characters accompanied by a single loud drum beat, while lines are delivered at a fast and sometimes frenetic pace. Heads turn on each such percussion, giving the audience at times the feeling of watching a fast-paced tennis match.

Subtle and overt slapstick physical comedy is peppered throughout the play, while lines at times are delivered quite loudly. The audience engagement is delightful, and I found myself laughing out loud throughout the performance. All in all, I fInd it to be a thoroughly enjoyable performance. See for yourself but don’t be deceived – “Tartuffe” only runs through June 7th, so proceed with haste to www.conspirewithus.org for tickets or more information.

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