Ross Valley Players has opened its 96th season with Richard Wilbur’s translation of Molière’s 1669 comedy, Tartuffe. This is surprisingly timely, with Tartuffe’s themes of false piety, willful self-delusion and condescension toward the wealthy elite. The show runs at the Barn Theatre at the Marin Art and Garden Center in Ross through Oct.12.
The plot is simple, but it takes its time getting there. Tartuffe (Steve Price) is a con artist who has convinced the wealthy Orgon (Douglas Nolan) to take him in. So smitten is Orgon with Tartuffe that he offers the man his young, already engaged, daughter, Mariane (Chloris Li), as a bride; disinherits his son, Damis (Nic Moore), for truthfully telling Orgon that Tartuffe is lusting after his wife, Elmire (Stephanie Hunt); and eventually signs over everything he owns to the con artist.
Other characters are Orgon’s brother-in-law, Cleante (Evan Held); Mariane’s fiancé, Valere (Eliot Hall); and, most notably, Dorine (Emily Anderson), the maid, who is the real brains of the household.
There are some impressive production values here. The costumes by Valera Coble are highly detailed, and the set by Mikko Uesugi is both a perfect use of the stage and a faithful representation of a mid-century modern living room.
Performance-wise, Anderson is a powerhouse. Dorine is one of those roles that every actress wants to play at least once, and Anderson nails the sharp, sassy, opinionated woman with impeccable comedic timing and boundless energy.
Moore is a flexible actor in more ways than one, which serves his character well. Hunt, Li and Held are well cast, bringing a realistic sensibility to their characters, despite the play’s zaniness. However, it is Hall who steals the show with his brief appearances, proving again that the relative newcomer is an actor to be watched.
I love Molière, but there were choices made during this production that puzzled me. Most notably, for seemingly no reason at all, the play takes place in 1960 in Southern California rather than 1669 in Paris. Yes, Molière is an old master like the frequently-reset Shakespeare, but the concept must further the story; otherwise, why do it? None of the language is altered to include any references to anything 1960s. They even still reference the king of France.
Overall, this is a fair, if baffling, production of the masterpiece that will have one rhyming all the way home.
‘Tatuffe’ runs through Oct. 12 at the Barn Theatre in the Marin Art and Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Ross. Thurs.–Sat., 7:30pm; Sun., 2pm. $30–$45. 415.456.9555. rossvalleyplayers.com.
