The Miser
If Shakespeare is to the English language our greatest playwright, the French would most certainly counter him with Molière, at least as far as comedy is concerned. In his lifetime Molière revolutionized comedic writing and performance with over 36 plays in his cannon. L’Avare¸ or The Miser as it is better known to the English speaking world, is one of these playful satirical comedies that poke fun at French ideals.
The plot of the story follows a tight-fisted but rich money-lender named Harpagon (Alan Blumenfeld) and his children’s quest, Élise (Samara Frame) and Cléante (Mike Peebler), to escape their father and into the arms of their desired lovers. The comedy really flares up early on when we learn that Valère (Chad Jason Scheppner) lover to Élise is a servant to Harpagon and the old man desires to marry Mariane, the lover of Cléante and in turn will marry off his children to people they have no interest in.
While modern stagings of French farce can drift into the world of naturalized theatre that most contemporary audiences have come to accept as the only form theatre takes, under Ellen Geer’s expert direction this production keeps true to its roots and is a non-stop laugh riot from start to finish. Alan Blumenfeld rules the stage as Harpagon, plays with and on the audience every single moment from his direct interactions to his interruptions of other character’s asides and is pitch perfect in his performance. His voice and movement work is stellar and his comedic timing is as harsh to everyone around him as it is playful to the audience. He brings us on the journey of his demise and gets us rooting for his children right from the start.
And his children are as perfectly cast as their father is. Mike Peebler gives a flawless performance as the foppish Cléante from the very first entrance. He and Blumenfeld have some of the best scenes in the play together – a personal favorite is where Master Jacques, expertly played by Ted Barton who delivers laugh after laugh, must play judge over their battle for Mariane. And Samara Frame as Élise is a beautiful balance in this family filled with hysterics. Her and Chad Jason Scheppner as Valère get the show off on the right foot in their opening scene and delight the whole night through, with a highlight being Valère’s judging of Élise being given away in marriage without a dowery to an elder suitor.
Theatricum has yet to disappoint this season, and The Miser has to be one of their very best productions to date. If you are in need a good laugh, and who isn’t these days, get yourself down to Topanga with a picnic and a loved one and prepare to laugh so hard your sides will hurt. You won’t be disappointed.
The Miser is now playing at The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum at 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd. in Topanga Canyon through September 26th. For tickets and more information, call (310) 455-3723 or visit online at www.theatricum.com