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Crawford International College Sandton’s resident theatre maker brings French classic Tartuffe to the stage
Crawford International College Sandton’s resident theatre maker, and drama teacher, Raymond Taylor has, once again, brought a masterpiece to life through his direction of the school’s talented troupe of actors.
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Taylor said he wanted to try something new and tackle a new challenge. This led to his decision to take on Molière’s Tartuffe, a poignant production which garnered suppression from King Louise XIV in the 1600s when it was first performed.
“I wanted a new challenge; I did it to try something new, with a focus on Commedia Dell’arte – or, the comedic aspect of people, in general, reflecting on how hypocritical people can be in life,” Taylor said. “It’s the challenge. This is my first time trying this over-the-top, slap-stick, Commedia Dell’arte comedy. It wasn’t easy. I think the main thing was to take on a different style because we did Romeo and Juliet earlier in the year, and A Dream Play last year. So, I’m trying to expose my learners to different styles of theatre in the process.”
Times have changed a lot since then, but funny stays funny, and Molière, real name, Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, was a specialist when it came to making audiences laugh through satire.
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The production speaks to the dangers of gullibility, and taking people at face value, often with dire repercussions. In Tartuffe, Father, portrayed by Temujin Houvet, is marrying his daughter, Mary-Anne, played by Taliah De Figueredo, off to the title character Tartuffe, portrayed by Aston Jordan, who turns out to be quite the problematic character.
Even though Father has arranged for Tartuffe to marry his daughter, Tartuffe, instead, has eyes on Father’s partner, Elmire, played by Unathi Ngubeni. Father and Elmire’s son, Son, played by Ethan Rowe, overhears Tartuffe coming onto his mother from under the table. However, when Son tells Father, he finds himself disowned, and replaced in Father’s will by Tartuffe.
Tartuffe is modelled after powerful figures in the mid 1600s who could get anything they wanted regardless of whom they hurt in the process. Thankfully, Elmire’s plan to expose Tartuffe works, and the family doesn’t end up becoming homeless and destitute through Tartuffe’s vile scheming to drive them from their home, and steal Father’s wife.
Taylor’s adaptation of Tartuffe carried a powerful caution against being too quick to believe people at their word, as people can turn out to be Tartuffes (imposters). The show also starred Nzulu-Yemfihlakalo Majola as Sister, and Khanyo Mbanjwa as Father’s mom, Mother.
The best feature of the production was how the play was spoken in meter, with rhyming couplets, as it was originally written by Molière. Tartuffe opened at Crawford International College Sandton’s drama theatre on September 15 and ran until September 18.
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