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Regional Reviews: San Francisco A Scarier Version of Molière's Tartuffe Also see Richard's reviews of Stupid Fucking Bird and Stories by Alice Munro and Jeanie's review of M. Butterfly
Dominique Serrand directs this fast-paced, two hour and twenty minute farce, using David Ball's raw and racy adaptation set in 17th century France. The director brings to the audience an abundance of magnificent energetic acting on the part of the cast. There are deliciously crisp rhymed couplets through the text and it is true to the customs of the era. Tartuffe is a satire on religious hypocrisy. Orgon, a noble in the court of King Louis IV, is completely taken in by religious zealot Tartuffe, wherein the noble deeds him his house and fortune. He has the run of the house and he influences every aspect of Orgon's life, to the point that the nobleman intends to marry off his only daughter to the con man. Steven Epp is brilliant as Tartuffe. The role is generally played as a fool but Epp creates a more multifaceted and poisonous character. The seduction scene between Tartuffe and Orgon's wife Elmire in the second act is not played for laughs but a more startling get-together. Epp goes out of his way to show Tartuffe's persecution complex and there is even a scene of a mock crucifixion at the end of the play as he leers at the audience. Luverne Seifert as Orgon gives an impressive performance with his wonderful theatrical voice that booms about the theatre. He plays the role like an intransigent prude. Playing Orgon's beleaguered wife Elmire, Sofia Jean Gomez gives a fine performance. She wears peacefulness like a protective veneer. Suzanne Warmanen is the most recognizable rib-tickling figure on the stage as Dorine the maid. She commands the stage and enchants the audience physically and vocally. She brings the most laughs to this otherwise stern production. The rest of the cast shows a perfect balance between commedia dell'arte types and fully drawn characters. Brian Hostenske gives a perfect performance as Damis the son of Orgon. Lenne Klingaman and Christopher Carley give enthusiastic performances as the young lovers Mariane and Valere. Nathan Keeper and Todd Pivetti deftly perform the two accomplices of Tartuffe, and Michael Manuel strikingly plays two roles—Madame Pernelle in heavy drag and the Officer from the court of Louis IX. Dominique Serrand's direction is sharp and incisive and he shows us the many layers of a religious persecution complex. Sonya Berlovitz has created wonderful outlandish 17th century costumes, especially the white suit with large red roses worn by the lover of Mariane. Serrand has also designed the set with the help of Tom Buderwitz—a terrific set that has an operatic feel about it. It has sweeping classical lines that are reminiscent of Versailles during the rule of Louis IV. Lighting by Marcus Dilliard and sound by Corinne Carrillo are awesome during a thunder and lightning storm in the second act. Tartuffe plays through April 12th, 2015, at the Roda Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2015 Addison Street, Berkeley. For tickets call 510-647-2949 or visit www.berkeleyrep.org/ Coming up next is Tarell Alvin McCraney's Head of Passes on the Thrust stage beginning April 10th and running through May 24th.
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