Community theatre enthusiasts leapt at the chance to attend the opening night of Mercury Players’ latest production of Molière’s Tartuffe, filling the Heritage Hall at the Duncan United Church on Feb. 29, colloquially known as leap day.
READ MORE: Mercury Players present Molière’s satirical comedy ‘Tartuffe’ in Duncan
Based on a translation by Ranjit Bolt, Tartuffe has all the right stuff and is a visual masterpiece from start to finish as director Rien Vesseur pulls out all the stops with his cast of 14 making this farce a force to be reckoned with.
Audience members of all ages waited for the lights to dim, and the actors to outshine the stage lights, which they did in fine fashion. As the curtain pulled back it revealed what looked like a living and breathing Rembrandt painting giving a glimpse of how this theatrical comedic tale may unfold. Speaking of fine fashion — right off the hop a huge kudos must be given to Mony Vesseur and her team who completely outdid themselves with the astounding period piece costume designs, and to Roland Grahame and Mercury Players president Rien Vesseur for their jaw-dropping set design as the perfect combination of the two transported audience members of all ages to 17th Century France.
The stage lights went up to unveil the front room of Orgon’s home in 1660 Paris, France where the entire play takes place. In the first act we are introduced to the whole family. Orgon (Rob Foell) is a well-to-do businessman who lives with his second wife Elmire (Sarah Knight) and his two adult children, Damis played with much bravado by Will Johnson, and Mariane played sweetly Sarah Chapeskie.
Orgon and his mother Mme. Pernelle, played wonderfully by Chris Johnson, are both smitten with the sanctimonious scoundrel Tartuffe (Adrian Ingham) whom Orgon has welcomed into his home. While mother and son can’t stop singing this so-called pious man’s praises the rest of the clan aren’t buying what he is selling, including Orgon’s brother-in-law Cléante (Dan Leckey) as well as Mariane’s fiance Valère, played charmingly by Raine Edgar, and her maid Dorine (Julia Lalonde). This production takes the audience on a rousing ride through family dynamics where the chemistry of the individual male relationships between Foell, Johnson, and Leckey is more potent than anything that could be whipped up in a science lab.
The characters of Tartuffe, Elmire, and Orgon are considered among some of the greatest classical roles in theatre and the lovable local actors playing them certainly do them justice. Ingham gives a sublime slimey performance as Tartuffe while audience members witness his character unfold. Having Orgon under his thumb, he makes moves not only for financial gain, but wastes no time putting the moves on his young and lovely wife Elmire, played enchantingly by Knight. She is a pleasure to watch as she sidesteps Tartuffe’s wiles with the intent to uncover his true colors. Tartuffe tries to woo Elmire. Little does he know he is flirting with what will soon be a disaster for him. Foell takes the audience on a fantastic ride of emotion from being in complete awe with Tartuffe’s persona to eventually seeing the light and realizing that his fraudulent behaviour is more awful than anything else.
Rounding off the cast is Flipote (Sylvia Swift), Laurent (Chadd Cawson), M. Loyale (Perry Mill), the King’s Officer (Phillip Allingham) and the Second Officer (Callum Hughes). Laughter roared though the Heritage Hall for all five acts — while every actor shone bright with their moment in the sun getting positive reactions and chuckles for what they brought to the stage. But it was Lalonde’e portrayal of the family maid Dorine with her duster in hand who swept up the most laughs with her brazen attitude and tongue-in-cheek responses.
The play is completely done in rhyming couplets, which is as pleasing to the ears as the visuals are to the eyes. It is called community theatre for a reason and it is easy to see all the hard work from even those behind the scenes that went into bringing this satirical classic to life. The ending promises to be a delight, just as I promise not to offer up any more spoilers, I will however give the nudge that this is absolutely one Mercury Players production not to be missed as it delves into hoodwinking and household relations.
Tartuffe runs until March 10, with 7:30 p.m. performances on March 1, 7, and 8 and 2:30 p.m. matinees on March 2, 3, 9, and 10. Tickets are $25 or $20 for both students and seniors, and are available to purchase either at Ten Old Books in downtown Duncan or online at www.mercuryplayers.org.