Imagine the most frugal person you know. The person who picks up that lost dime, clips those weekly coupons and prefers a rump roast to a New York strip. Now multiply that by 10, and you have the protagonist of "The Miser." A 62-year-old man named Harpagon (Jason Kehler), also known as "the miser," hoards his money from his children and barely pays his servants. He even goes so far as to chain his few pieces of furniture to the floor to prevent theft. Sound extreme? Well, it's no surprise the play is titled after him.
After the death of his wife, the only remaining members living with Harpagon are his son, Cleante (played by Chris Harcum) and his daughter, Elise (Sarah Drew). Unbeknownst to the father, both children are in love - Cleante with neighbor Marianne (Lauren Rooker), and Elise with head servant and former soldier, Valere (Adam Brock). Without their knowledge, Harpagon has arranged other plans for his children. The plot thickens.
Compelled by her father to marry Anselme (Anselm Clinard), Elise is furious and refuses on the spot. As for Cleante, he finds himself in a twisted love triangle involving his love and his father. Harpagon plans to marry his son's true love, Marianne, who is enticed into the arrangement by the manipulative courtesan Frosine (Laura Tetlow). Having never met Harpagon, Marianne assumes he is somewhat near her age -- man, is she wrong. This confusion causes greater conflicts between the miser and his children,especially with Cleante.
Set in France, 1792, the performance is enhanced by the fantastic scenery. The skewed, antique stage, complemented by lighting, sets the mood for mystery. The set creates an optical illusion that enhances the stage. The numerous windows and doors, when backlit, tell the audience the time of day. The use of a special painting technique gives Harpagon's salon the look of age and antiquity. Without such a stunning set, the performance would have lost its luster.
The supporting cast, which includes Alex Major, Chris Ann Kelly, Ben Bolling, Michael Trimble, Olev Jaakson, Shane J. M. Liesegang and Giorgio Litt, intensifies the plotline by adding comic relief and occasional minor conflicts with Harpagon. The excitement exuded by the cast incorporates the audience into the play. Adapted by director Sabin Epstein, Moliere's "The Miser" turns the audience into an omniscient character. We are questioned, informed and incorporated into the storyline in order to grab our attention.
Overall, the acting is extraordinary. Who would have known an actor in his 20's could convincingly become a man of 62? As stated by Kehler, "I wanted the chance to play a role that is so alive. There are so many degrees of challenges, such as making people believe you're 62 and obsessed with money, you're manipulative, shrewd and suspicious 24 hours a day."
Harcum, portraying Cleante, is truly in character when expressing his ambition to marry Marianne despite his father's complete refusal and selfishness.Elise and Marianne, played by Drew and Rooker, influence the affections of the audience by portraying themselves as innocent young women, unsure and sensitive, yet strong enough to speak their minds. Laura Tetlow plays Frosine as the seductive, independent courtesan, willing to get what she wants, while still appealing to the audience.
As the story continues, the confusion increases, the acting becomes intense and the comedy heightens. The stage is set for a comedy, nestled in tragedy, yet still grasping the full flavor of Moliere's tale. As for the conclusion, let's just say ... it's a small world.
Read More
The best albums of 2014
By Noah Zeidman | December 4, 2014Across genres, it has been a pretty great year in music.
Top 10 movies of 2014
December 4, 2014This has been an excellent year for film, offering everything from gripping blockbusters to innovative personal films.
Iggy Azalea is “Reclassified”
December 4, 2014It has become common practice among music artists to repackage their albums in an effort to simultaneously boost single sales and dish out new content by slightly renaming the album or slapping “Deluxe” onto the title.
