One of the joys of the Lehigh Valley theatre scene is that you can go to a nearby college campus and for little more than $25 see a 338-year old play and laugh your head off at how modern it seems. That’s what I did on opening night of “Tartuffe,” the playwright Moliere’s famous French masterpiece of bad manners.
Directed by Wayne S. Turney, the students in DeSales University’s Act I student theatre program presented a flawless interpretation of the play about a con man that begs for, and gets, plenty of overacting. The plot about love, family, deceit, and hypocrisy meanders through scene after scene of hilarious physical comedy with outstanding performances by a well-coached ensemble.
Moliere presents a family of stock characters – the buffoony father, the preyed-upon mother, the daughter betrothed to the wrong man, and the smartest man in the room – a woman. She is Dorine, a smart-aleck housemaid, played wonderfully by Arrianna Daniels. Her duck walk alone got a giggle each time she waddled up the stairs.
Patrick “PJ” Moran is hilarious as the family patriarch duped by the duplicitous freeloader Tartuffe, well played with a bit of understatement by Al Jones; these two are just plain fun to watch. Moran and Kellan McMichael periodically throw sputtering tantrums that delighted the audience, and with her wordless role as the sleepy personal maid Flipotte, Izzy Criscuolo got some of the biggest laughs of the night.
An elegant Mackenzie Moyer plays the crafty wife Elmire who finally figures out how to reveal Tartuffe’s perfidy and Kailey Edwards is in fine comedic form as her domineering mother-in-law. Patrick Byrnes, Gabe Moses, Lykechi McCoy and Matthew Smaldone each have funny turns in their supporting roles and Abby Loryn is perfect as the mis-bethrothed daughter.
Director Turney did his own translation from the French in a smart adaptation of Moliere’s work, tossing in a few modern clichés for good measure. The choice of this play about a man who has a precarious relationship with the truth became more prescient as Jones developed his role.
Turney’s direction is spot on, and seems choreographed rather than just blocked. He must be doing something right: The entire cast appeared to be having a terrific time.
Beyond the performance, I am always fascinated with the technical aspects of theatre and can say the folks at Act I did themselves proud. Will Neuert’s set is an elegant two-story construction standing for the center hall of a modest French chateau. Amy Best’s costumes are both elegant and fun, especially the delightful men in skirts and heels. And finally, applause to Nathan Diehl on keyboard who provided a running comedic background in the style of silent film music cross-referenced with oratorio-like chords between the recitative. His timing was perfect.
“Tartuffe” may not be for those expecting a serious, thought-provoking drama, but if you can sit still for two hours and listen carefully, you will find yourself joining in the laughter at all the delights on the DeSales stage.
“Tartuffe,” Wednesdays through Sundays until March 1, Labuda Center, DeSales University, 2755 Station Ave., Center Valley. 610-282-3192, www.desales.edu/act1.