Tartuffe

Tartuffe (Le Tartuffe, ou L'Imposteur)

    Author: Molière

    First Performance: 1664, Versailles (banned 3-act version); 1667, Paris (5-act version)

    Published: 1669

    First English Translation: 1670

    Genre: Com. in 5 acts; French alexandrines

    Setting: Orgon's home, Paris, 17th c.

    Cast: 8m, 5f

Orgon and his elderly mother have fallen under the spell of a hypocritical rogue Tartuffe, whose pretended piety is a cover to exploit the gullible Orgon. Despite the protests of his family, Orgon will not acknowledge his obsession with Tartuffe and even promises to marry his daughter Mariane to him, although she is already engaged to Valère, the man she loves. Even when Orgon's son Damis reveals that Tartuffe is trying to seduce his stepmother Elmire, Orgon refuses to believe him and spites the family by...

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