Nov. 23, 2009

WVU Parkersburg Theatre Department to present "Tartuffe" Nov. 27-29, 2009.

CONTACT:   Jeffrey Byrd, Theatre coordinator, 304-424-8295.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Theatre Department at West Virginia University at Parkersburg will present Jean Baptiste Moliere’s 1664 satirical farce "Tartuffe,"  Friday-Sunday, Nov. 27-29, in the College Theatre.

Show times are 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday (Nov. 27 and 28), and 2 p.m., Sunday (Nov. 29).  Admission is free.  

“Arguably Moliere’s most famous play, "Tartuffe," or "The Imposter," as it is sometimes called, explores the nature of religious hypocrisy and Machiavellian manipulation," Andrew Clovis, production director, said.

Clovis noted that Tartuffe is what would be described today as an emotional vampire, feeding off the gullibility, trust, and vulnerability of those around him.

"The entire play is written in 12-syllable lines, or alexandrines, of rhyming couplets which emphasize the humorous tone of the piece without belying the serious subject that is being satirized,” Clovis said.

As the play begins, the wealthy Orgon and his formidable mother, Madame Pernelle, have become convinced that Tartuffe is a man of true religious fervor. In fact, he is a manipulative hypocrite who controls Orgon not through lies but by encouraging Orgon’s baser nature to run roughshod over everyone else in the household. By the time Tartuffe receives his deserved comeuppance, he has gained legal control of Orgon’s finances, is on the verge of stealing his considerable wealth, has attempted to seduce his wife Elmire, and has arranged to marry his unwilling daughter, Mariane. Most of these mechanizations have occurred with Orgon’s blessing. Orgon’s wife, however, matches Tartuffe’s game play and this ultimately results in his undoing.

Additional characters include: Valere, the confused young dandy of Mariane’s dreams; Damis, Orgon’s hotheaded son who’s own marriage plans are being blocked by Tartuffe; Cleante, Orgon’s brother, who provides a voice of skeptical reason; Flipote, Madame Pernelle’s worthless servant-girl; and Dorine, the no-nonsense, brassy and sarcastic lady’s maid. “Every character in the piece has tremendous comic moments,” notes the director.

The cast for the production includes: Tara Polan as Madame Pernelle; Erica DeVore as Flipotte; Megan Jett as Elmire; Luke Mollohan, Damis; Rachel Polan as Mariane; Olivia Polan as Dorine; Matthew DeVore as Cleante; David Scheimann as Orgon; Jared Van Fossen as Valere; Christopher Parsons as Tartuffe; Tom Reckard as Monsieur Loyal, and Cory Carr as the Court Officer. 

The production's crew includes Liz Adkins, assistant to the director; Jeff Byrd, set and light designer; Stephanie Cale, costume construction; Erica DeVore, costume construction; Patrick Garvey, stage manager; Michi Griffith, costume construction; Maureen Modesitt, costume design and construction and Tara Polan, costume construction.

cd11/23/09

For additional information, contact:
Connie Dziagwa
WVU Parkersburg
Executive Director
Institutional Advancement
(304-424-8203 - Office)
E-mail

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