Images: 
Total Rating: 
****
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
Author: 
Moliere; Translation: Richard Wilbur
Director: 
Joe Dowling
Review: 

Moliere's Tartuffe, now at the American Airlines Theater, is a great contemporary production of a 340-year-old play in a marvelous rhymed translation by Richard Wilbur. It's played against a somewhat ponderous period set by John Lee Beatty, with super costumes by Jane Greenwood which amplify with wit the characters' foibles. The first-rate cast includes Henry Goodman as the loathsome, slimy Tartuffe -- Goodman gives good loath and marvelous slime -- his eyes sparkle with glee in his villainy. Brian Bedford, perfect as his gullible victim, is the epitome of a self-righteous gull. J. Smith-Cameron adds sparkle and wit and Kathryn Meisle contributes beauty, strength and humor to the fine cast, directed with comic snap by Joe Dowling. This is classic comic theater at its best.

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 + / TOTALTHEATER David Lefkowitz ?
Critic: 
Richmond Shepard
Date Reviewed: 
January 2003