Images:
Opened:
January 9, 2003
Ended:
February 23, 2003
Country:
USA
State:
New York
City:
New York
Company/Producers:
Roundabout Theater Company (Todd Haimes, artistic director)
Theater Type:
Broadway
Theater:
American Airlines Theater
Theater Address:
West 42nd Street
Running Time:
2 hrs, 15 min
Genre:
Comedy
Director:
Joe Dowling
Review:
From director Joe Dowling comes a misfired Moliere that points up Tartuffe's structural weakness: all of the first half centers on papa Orgon refusing to listen to anyone. If he would just shut up for thirty seconds, there'd be no play. This leads to some labored, even annoying patches, especially with an uneven cast trying to put this Roundabout mounting over. Brian Bedford's always a pro but he feels a bit by-the-numbers here; Henry Goodman makes an interestingly earthy, almost Shylockish title character - I'd like to see his Tartuffe in a better production. Good work, too, from Kathryn Meisle's Elmire and Philip Goodwin's creepily polite messenger. The hide-under-the-table scene still works, but when doesn't it?
Parental:
mild raunchy humor
Cast:
Rosaleen Linehan (Mme Pernelle), Kathryn Meisle (Elmire), J. Smith-Cameron (Dorine), T.R. Knight (Damis), Bryce Dallas Howard, John Bedford Lloyd, Erik Steele, Virginia Louise Smith, Brian Bedford (Orgon), Jeffrey Carlson, Henry Goodman (Tartuffe), Philip Goodwin (Loyal), Alec Beard, John Halbach, Brandy Mitchell, John Hayden, Melissa Miller, Robert Thompson.
Technical:
Set: John Lee Beatty; Costumes: Jane Greenwood; Lighting: Brian MacDevitt; Sound/Original Music: Mark Bennett; Dialects: Elizabeth Smith; PSM: Jane Pole; Hair/Wigs: Paul Huntley; Casting: Jim Carnahan; Tech Sup: Steve Beers; GM: Sydney Davolos; PR: Boneau/Bryan-Brown.
Other Critics:
NEW YORK John Simon + / PERFORMING ARTS INSIDER Richmond Shepard !
Critic:
David Lefkowitz
Date Reviewed:
January 2003
