Students can witness the spectacle of scandal and hypocrisy starting this Thursday in Greenberg Theatre when the Department of Performing Arts puts on "Tartuffe."
The play, which premiered in Versailles in 1664, tells the story of an aging aristocrat, Orgon, who is conned by a falsely religious zealot, Tartuffe. The plot follows Tartuffe as his deception mounts and Orgon's family tries to protect from the ramifications.
Kyle Encinas, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, plays Orgon, and summed up the tension in the play.
"It's a look at hypocrisy and how people can be so blind ... that they won't let themselves be swayed by others' point of view," he said.
"Tartuffe" calls the devotion of zealots into question, which made it controversial in the court of Louis XIV. The DPA's performance visually channels the pageantry of Versailles.
"Stylistically, the show is very different from other shows in Greenberg," Encinas said. "The costuming and set design are really beautiful and really interesting."
"Tartuffe" will play at the Greenberg Theatre starting at 8 p.m. Thursday and will continue through Saturday, with a matinee at 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15 to the general public, $10 for the AU community and $5 for students.
You can reach this staff writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
