Show times at Wittenberg’s Chakeres Memorial Theatre are 8 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 15-17 and 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 18. Tickets can be purchased at the Wittenberg University Student Center or by calling either (937) 327-7443 or the theatre department at (937) 327-7464.
Steve Reynolds, professor and chair of theatre and dance at Wittenberg, said "Tartuffe" portrays religious hypocrisy during the height of the French Renaissance, pointing out how easily people are duped by those using false religious zeal as a means to achieve immoral goals. The lead character, Tartuffe, is the 17th-century charlatan who deceives Orgon, whose gullibility provides many of the show’s comic moments.
"This is a wonderful classic comedy," Reynolds said. "The goal of our production is to reveal how a play written so long ago is still applicable to today’s world."
The cast for "Tartuffe" was selected in December, and rehearsals have been five nights a week since the first of the year. Of particular note is the involvement of Seton Brown, a participant in Wittenberg’s High School Scholar program who will be playing the role of the bailiff, M. Loyal. Brown is a senior at Springfield North High School.
The rest of the cast consists of: sophomore LaRissa O’Neal of Indianapolis (Mme. Pernelle); sophomore Andy Butterfield of Zanesville, Ohio (Orgon); senior Maicah M. Packard of Chicago (Elmire); freshman Matt Woods-Koppitch of Indianapolis (Damis); sophomore Jordan Boughrum of Las Vegas (Mariane); freshman Billy Wallace of Hamilton, Ohio (Valere); sophomore Joshua Podvin of West Chester, Ohio (Cleante); senior Karl Miller of Silver Spring, Md. (Tartuffe); senior Amy Mathews of Stow, Ohio (Dorine); sophomore Bill White of Hilliard, Ohio (Police Officer); and freshman Maria DiFuccia of Erie, Pa. (Flipote).
