Tartuffe

"Tartuffe" by Moliere has been produced many times in the off and off off Broadway community over the last decades. As one of the most prolific writers ever, it is this play that takes the stage more than any other of his works.

NYTW is the latest theater to produce "Tartuffe", Directed by Sarah Benson, under its new adaptation by Lucas Hnath, this campy version tries to appeal the modern theater lover. With a minimal set by dots and brilliant costumes by Enver Chakartash, the play takes the audience out of the conventional. Its cast is as diverse as the writing itself. Hnath tries to bring the verbiage into the 21st century even though the actors speak in romantic quintuplets still.

The problem here is not that it is in the modern, some people enjoy the more modern in today's theater; the problem is that many of the actors cannot hold nor command the stage in this "Tartuffe". The staging itself on this baron, uninspiring set doesn't help the production whatsoever. The camp does not over come the poor direction and the lackluster effort in this production. The actors at times seem aloof toward the production.

The acting and the direction were bifurcated in this production. The dislike for Tartuffe was never believable. Words were spoken but we never got a clear sense of why Tartuffe (Matthew Broderick), who was never really strong in his role, he just seemed to be going through the motions on stage, was so disliked.

Valere, Damis (Ryan J. Haddad) and Cleante (Francis Jue) where ineffective in their roles. Between the forced campy movements and the "business" they gave us, they just never landed great delivery. As Orgon, David Cross did well in his role. He played the fool who is blindly loyal to Tartuffe in solid form. He firmly believes that Tartuffe is a good and decent human being with a great love for God. He counts on Tartuffe for advise, advise that he hopes will help both he and his family.

The show run time is 1:50 minutes and without intermission. It would have behooved the show to have an intermission so that the audience could reset towards the show. Without an intermission, it left the audience squirming in their seats.

The set too did not help the production. With limited props it made the audience have to imagine to much, and to try to piece together what the writer and director were trying to accomplish here, but never put forth.

NYTW's "Tartuffe" never gives us anything concrete to get us interested in the characters. Its cast never seems to interested in giving us an in-depth performance either.

NYTW over the last few years has produced more duds than quality theater. Before COVID, NYTW sent 3 or 4 shows to Broadway and was beginning to usurp The Public as the go to Off Off Broadway venue for quality productions. It was also sending more shows to "The Great White Way" than the Public Theater was. After COVID however, NYTW began to sputter and the result is weaker theater there. The quality is just very inconsistent.

Look for my review of "Bug", hopefully this week. "Bug" is the last show of the Fall 2025 season. This season to me ,whether on Broadway or off was pretty disappointing. There were only a few shows worth noting, the rest were at best, fair. I am hopeful that the spring season will be better than this one. After "Bug" is "Anna Christie" at St. Annes Warehouse in Brooklyn.

#Broadway Bob, Tony Awards, Anna Christie, Tartuffe, Moliere, France, Broadway, Hollywood, Matthew Broderick, www.robertmmassimi.com, The Public Theater.