Molière

A new sparkling and witty version by Roger McGough of Moliere's comedy published as a programme text to accompany the premiere at the Liverpool Everyman on 9 May 2008. Tartuffe is a beacon of piety and in the home of wealthy merchant Orgon he has his feet firmly under the table. But all is not as it seems and as Orgon becomes more enraptured with his new companion the whole city is chattering. Is he a friend, a fraud, a miracle or a hypocrite? The family smell a rat and amidst the frills and frivolity of seventeenth century society they hatch a cunning plan to outwit the wily deceiver before he brings their house crashing down. Moliere wrote Tartuffe in 1664 but the play was banned following its first production in Paris; it wasn't until 1669 that it was revived and became one of his greatest successes.

'Why does he write those ghastly plays that the whole of Paris flocks to see? And why does he paint such lifelike portraits that everyone recognizes themselves?' Moliere, The Impromptu at Versailles This volume brings together four of Moliere's greatest verse comedies covering the best years of his prolific writing career. Actor, director, and playwright, Moliere (1622-73) was one of the finest and most influential French dramatists, adept at portraying human foibles and puncturing pomposity. The School for Wives was his first great success; Tartuffe, condemned and banned for five years, his most controversial play. The Misanthrope is his acknowledged masterpiece, and The Clever Women his last, and perhaps best-constructed, verse piece. In addition this collection includes a spirited attack on his enemies and a defence of his theatre, in the form of two sparkling short plays, The School for Wives Criticized and The Impromptu at Versailles. Moliere's prose plays are available in a complementary Oxford World's Classics edition, Don Juan and Other Plays. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

""How I deplore the bogus ways Of society these days - A sort of national contest To find out who can a*se-lick best!" In this witty cutting version of Le Misanthrope Moliere's angry hero Alceste becomes Alan - journalist, intellectual and free spirit- who finds himself adrift in a social whirl of false flattery and schmooze. In a world where nobody calls a spade a spade (or even knows what a spade is for), how can the cantankerous but high-minded Alan secure the affections of Celia - a spoiled, feckless, fickle socialite, who happens to be the love of his life? The Grouch was first performed at West Yorkshire Playhouse in February 2008"

Il s'agit de Moliere, et ce n'est pas la peine d'en dire plus. Il s'agit de George Dandin, pour ainsi dire la derniere des farces, la premiere des grandes comedies. Il s'agit de la Compagnie des Minuits, jeune troupe issue de la Sorbonne. Il s'agit de la mise en scene de George Dandin par la Compagnie des Minuits, dont ce livre est comme une representation metonymique. Il s'agit de Dominique Barberis, qui a saisi l'instant theatral. Il s'agit de Patrick Dandrey, qui signe l'etude la plus fouillee de la bibliographie sur ce qu'il appelle une " pastorale burlesque ". Il s'agit de Michel Viel et du Service culturel des etudiants de l'universite Paris-Sorbonne, qui ont colle tous ces morceaux. Il s'agit de Moliere, et ce n'est pas la peine d'en dire plus.

Harpagon thinks that his children are costing him too much money and must be married off. He has found an old man who won't demand a dowry for his daughter, Elise, and a rich widow for his son, Cleante. Unfortunately Elise is already in love with Harpagon's servant, and his son is in love with the penniless Mariane, whom Harpagon has already decided to take as his own wife. While seeking rest from daily care, I learned that Monsieur Moli re, The darling of the muses nine, Whose blessings flow on him like wine, Is now presenting on the stage yes, he's the idol of the age A Miser who diverts us all; And not a little bit. His thrall Encompasses; his scope is vast; He makes us laugh from first to last. He speaks in prose and not in verse; But the effect is none the worse. His prose is so theatrical; Its essence is dramatical. This Miser, then, whose praise one sings, Is prodigal in comic things. What's more, the acting's excellent. Your time could not be better spent. -Charles Robinet, Letters in Verse, Paris, 15 September 1668

"Moliere's classic farce pokes fun at Argan, a man so obsessed by his own imaginary ailments that he can no longer control his haphazard household or the mercenary medics he employs. With doctors determined to grow fat from the profits of his condition, Argan's closest relatives battle to show him the truth of his situation. Using elaborate trickery, they strive to cure the real disease from which he suffers, managing to pile confusion upon hilarious confusion. This version of The Hypochondriac premiered at the Almeida Theatre, London in 2005."

Drama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price A superlative farce by the master of the form, Molière, written at the height of his powers, a masterclass in comic construction. Two young men have each found the love of their life. Unfortunately their fathers have other ideas. So the boys turn for help to Scapino, king of con-men. But the old men's obstinacy drives Scapino to ever more ludicrous schemes to ensure that love wins the day. Les Fourberies de Scapin (Scapin the Schemer) was first staged in 1671 in the theatre of the Palais-Royal in Paris. This English version by Jeremy Sams, in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series, was first staged at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2005. This edition includes an introduction to the play by Stephen Mulrine.

Drama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price Molière's most-admired comedy of manners, about a man whose quickness to criticise the flaws in others, and in himself, leads him into deep trouble. Alceste, the 'misanthrope', hates all mankind, and despairs of its hypocrisy and falseness. He believes that the world could be perfected if people were more honest with each other. But when his honesty starts to make him enemies, and the target of malicious gossips, it is his world and his life which suffer. The Misanthrope, or the Cantankerous Lover (Le Misanthrope ou l'Atrabilaire amoureux) was first performed in 1666 at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris. This English version, in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series, is translated and introduced by Stephen Mulrine.

Drama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price Molière's story of a covetous old miser, obsessively protecting his hoard of gold and neglecting his long-suffering children. Harpagon is obsessed with the wealth he has amassed and always ready to save expenses. Now a widower, he has a son, Cléante, and a daughter, Élise. Although he is over sixty, he is attempting to marry his son's own sweetheart, Mariane. But it seems that Harpagon's pinchpenny paranoia is finally catching up with him – his gold is missing, and this time it might really have disappeared for good... The Miser was first performed in 1668, at the theatre of the Palais-Royal, Paris. This English version, in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classic series, is translated and introduced by Martin Sorrell.