The Carleton Players will present an adaptation of the famous French comedy “Tartuffe,” with performances nightly at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 29, 30, and 31, along with matinee performances at 2 p.m. on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Held in the Weitz Center for Creativity Theater, performances are free and open to the public. Reservations can be made online at www.carleton.tixato.com/buy/.
First performed in 1664, “Tartuffe” (or “The Imposter”) is one of the most famous theatrical comedies by the esteemed French playwright Molière, telling the story of Orgon, a Parisian man who falls under the influence of Tartuffe, a religious fraud, and how his wife, Elmire, and family deal with this situation.
The Carleton Players’ adaptation of “Tartuffe” follows the same fundamental storyline, but in a unique twist, three centuries to the timeline, with the story taking place in the 1968 (vs. 1664) and involving many of the key cultural themes of the 1960s.
Production notes state: “Paris 1668 fast forwards to Paris 1968, where sin and salvation meet the Rolling Stones in this production of Moliere’s classic comedy. Into the throes of the youth revolt steps Tartuffe, the double-dealing hypocrite who stands in the way of free love and free thought until undone by a saucy maid, an existential philosopher, and a Coco Chanel devotee.”
A total of 13 Carleton students are cast in this production, including senior Hayden Tornabene (Castle Pines, Colo.) as Orgon; and juniors Annie Wang (Shanghai, China) as Elmire, Erik Sorenson (Bemidji, Minn.) as Valère, and Nathan Bern (Oakland, Calif.) in the title roll of Tartuffe.
This performance is sponsored by the Carleton College Department of Theater & Dance. For more information, including disability accommodations, please call (507) 222-5567. The Weitz Center for Creativity is located a Third and College Streets in Northfield.