Student Production of Moliere’s Tartuffe Premieres Today

The Theatre Program’s production of Tartuffe (The Imposter) brings to life a classic comedy by iconic French playwright Moliere. 

Written in 1668, the satirical comedy centers on Tartuffe, a con-man who uses his seemingly pious demeanor to deceive a wealthy patriarch, Orgon. Even though Tartuffe’s hypocrisy is apparent to some, others remain oblivious, setting the stage for a comedy that spans centuries.

AUC’s student production adds a modern-day twist on the French classic. The adaptation by American playwright Constance Congdon is not set in 17th-century France, but in California today. This change of scene shows how Tartuffe bridges different times and cultures, said Jane Page, director of the performance. “The notion of a man wanting to buy his religious and spiritual piety rather than seek it himself is all too familiar,” she explained. “Introduce a religious con-man to exploit the situation, lust after his benefactor’s wife while arranging to marry the daughter and you have an all too plausible story for modern-day California.”

Page expects that this story and its themes will connect with audiences today just as it did in France more than 340 years ago. “The play’s story is as relevant today as it was then,” Page noted. “In this grand tale of human gullibility, the comedy, the situation and the characters resonate across cultures and centuries. The play’s story is as relevant today as it was then. Some scholars say it is the most produced French play in the world.”

Tartuffe opens on Wednesday, March 16 at 7 pm at the Malak Gabr Arts Theater at AUC’s New Cairo Campus. For the full schedule of show times, click here. Tickets can be purchased at the AUC Theatre Box Office at the Center for the Arts. For reservations, call 012.2172.1526 or 02.2.2615.4108.