Comedy in five acts by Molière
Translation: Alexandru Toma

Artistic director: Marietta Sadova
Assistant artistic director: Valeriu Grama
Scenography: Tatiana Manolescu Uleu
Premiere date: May 12, 1968

Definitively departing from the aesthetics of farce, this character comedy by Molière constitutes itself both as a painting of morals and as a satire of human flaws, announcing the liberal tendencies that would characterize the Enlightenment art of the following century.

The aristocrat Orgon welcomes Tartuffe into his home, taking him as an exemplary Christian, an adherent of moral austerity (for others, not for himself, as will be demonstrated throughout the play). While Orgon and his mother appreciate Tartuffe, the other members of the family see him for what he really is – a hypocritical adventurer enslaved to the sensual pleasures of life, who takes advantage of the naivety of his wealthy protector. He offers him his daughter, Mariane, as his wife, not seeing how Tartuffe is actually trying to seduce his wife. Elmira devises a plan by which the duplicitous Tartuffe's intentions are thwarted and his true nature is revealed right before Orgon's astonished eyes. The false bigot, however, has another card to play: using some compromising documents that Orgon had entrusted to him without fear of anything, Tartuffe denounces him to the royal court. Fatal imprudence: retaining great affection for Orgon, who had once served him faithfully, the king forgives him, and the one arrested will be the traitor Tartuffe himself.

Distribution:

Mrs. Pernelle:  Maud Mary
Orgone:  Nicholas Thomas
Elmira:  Simona Constantinescu
Damis:  Ben Dumitrescu
Marianne:  Gina Nicolae
Value:  Nicolae Barosan 
Clean:  Eugen Tugulea
Tartuffe:  Vladimir Jurascu 
Wishes:  Viorica Cernucan
Mr. Loyal:  Octavian Uleu
A captain of the guard:  Ion Tomorrow
Flipota:  Anca Miere Chirilă

Technical director: Dalma Simionescu
Prompter: Sofica Spoiala
Sound: Dorel Olea