Theater Review
By Juliet Schoen/Staff Writer
There are many messages to be found, subliminal and otherwise, in the two one-act plays by Moliere now being performed in the cozy confines of the Mark Taper Forum.
Messages, shmessages! Sure, the women outsmart the men, but the important thing is that Moliere, writing farce back in the mid-1600s, is still current and funny. He delivers the laughs in “The School for Husbands” and “The Imaginary Cuckold.”
The only things dated are the costumes and the word “cuckold,” which may or may not have significance in today’s climate of light dalliance.
Speaking of costumes, they are just perfect, reflecting the period and mood. In the opening of the first play, we meet two brothers who are completely different in their approach to women. Pointing up these differences, in addition to the dialogue, is their attire, one wearing somber black and the other in a colorful array of ruffles and frills. Each brother is entrusted with the upbringing of a ward, one using an iron fist, the other a free hand. Which of the disparate methods used by the two men will be successful?
(I never give away the plot, but I will say that the ward of the strict guardian uses an ingenious ruse to outwit her tormenter.)
In the second play, there are two couples involved in a series of misunderstandings, each believing his/her significant other is unfaithful.
Again the women come out ahead.
Everything in the production works beautifully from the sets by Ming Cho Lee to the costumes by Jane Greenwood. Much praise must also go to Brian Wilbur who is responsible for the excellent verse translation, so difficult to bring off successfully.
Outstanding, too, is the ensemble acting, led by Brian Bedford who also directed. Bedford is remarkable, first playing a city “Sganarelle” in a severe black frock coat and then portraying a country Sganarelle, practically unrecognizable with his sparse red hair and bulging belly. He does a superlative job both as actor and director.
Just as Bedford takes on completely different roles, so do the other members of the talented cast. The heroine in one play becomes the maid in the second and so on.
Taking part in the shenanigans are Ned Schmidtke, Katie MacNichol, Patricia Conolly, Anna Belknap, Don Reilly, Jeff Klein, Jerry Kernion, Erik Sorensen and Graham Shiels.
Although we’ve come a long way, sir and madam, the Moliere plays still offer many insights into human behavior, pointing up our foibles.