The Fortune Cookie Theatre Company’s Sylvaine Strike directs a production of Molière’s Tartuffe, with translation by Richard Wilbur. The show runs at The Baxter Flipside from 18 to 29 April at 7.30pm nightly, with selected matinees at 2pm.
Molière is regarded as one of the greatest masters of comedy, and Strike (The Miser, Tobacco, And the Harmful Effects Thereof) once again brings her winning signature directorial style to this theatre classic. The production follows on the Fortune Cookie Theatre Company’s runaway 2012 success with their staging of Molière’s The Miser, which ran to wide critical acclaim with 70 sold out performances, and which won four Naledi Awards, including Best Production and Best Director.
Neil McCarthy is Orgon, and Khutjo Green plays Elmire
Making his long-awaited return to the stage, Neil McCarthy (Born in the RSA) plays Orgon, with Khutjo Green (Animal Farm) as his wife Elmire. Craig Morris (Johnny Boskak is Feeling Funny), takes on the title role of Tartuffe, and theatre stalwart Vanessa Cooke (Vigil) plays the housekeeper, Dorine. Other cast members include Anele Situlweni (7de Laan), Vuyelwa Maluleke (Emotional Creatures), Adrian Alper (Generations),William Harding(The Miser) and Camilla Waldman (Closer).
Set design is by Sasha Ehlers and Chen Nakar, costume design by Sasha Ehlers, lighting design Oliver Hauser, musical composition Dean Barrett and choreography is by Owen Lonzar.
The lowdown
Tartuffe is an epic swindler disguised as a paragon of piety who manipulates his way into Orgon’s house and unleashes a 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. 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. Considering this, in a time when the artist, cartoonist or satirist’s freedom of expression was not guaranteed, Tartuffe is as relevant now as it was then.
“Promoting the work of Molière is even more relevant today as it remains utterly universal through the ongoing power of his word,” says director Sylvaine Strike. “We are proud to showcase the genius of one of France’s most accomplished artists, whose masterpiece Tartuffe will be performed by a brilliant South African cast, within a context never seen before and which promises a lot of surprises.
“It is a play which, through the strength of its comedy and satire of society, also invites us to question and interrogate.”
Age restriction 16 years.
What: Tartuffe
Where: Baxter Flipside
When: 18 -29 April, 2017 at 7.30pm nightly, select matinees 2pm, 22 – 29 April, 2pm, 25 April 11am
Preview tickets: 18 – 20 April, matinees R130
Tickets: Mon – Thurs: R140, Fri – Sat R160. Block bookings of 10 or more R120 pp. Students/pensioners R110
Book: Computicket 0861 915 8000, www.computicket.com, Shoprite Checkers. Discounts corporate, schools, block-bookings, charities 021 680 3962, sharon.ward@uct.ac.za
Info: www.baxter.co.za/
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