Dec 26, 2009

The Oxford Dictionary of Plays | 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...

[The entire page is 495 words long]

The Oxford Dictionary of Plays | Tartuffe

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