Tartuffe - Theatre Royal Haymarket

I saw the performance last night. The French characters speak French to each other, and English with the American characters. My own French is very basic, but they seem to be using Moliere’s French text in rhyming couplets but translating it into English surtitles using Hampton’s idiosyncratic prose. The French actors speak very quickly and Hampton uses more words than Moliere did, so it is quite hard to follow because there is a disconnect between what the two languages are doing. The acting is animated and fun to watch but unless you are bilingual you will have to choose between reading the quickly changing surtitles and watching the performances when they are speaking in the language you don’t know.

I loved whatever of Hampton’s text I managed to read — although there is a version of the final scene I won’t spoil that may not be to everyone’s taste.

Sorry to be that person but how long is it running at the moment?

It was 2 hours 20 minutes today, but it’s still in previews so might come down.

Well, it would be wrong to say we were disappointed with this as we didn't go in expecting anything too special in the first place.

It was, as ever, interesting to read the flyer/note the way it's being sold after watching it, as, like Consent, it just doesn't match what is on the stage.

The French/English works quite well, to a point. As others have said, make sure you've got a good view of the surtitles (above the stage at the front, and to the sides of Stalls and upper circle) as when it's the French turn they speak VERY fast.

English words are dribbled in before the English speakers roles start to showcase themselves a bit more.

The French win, on all levels in this production.

Acting and writing.

The French lines are nearly all in rhyming couplets and it's lovely to hear these, even if we were constantly looking at the translations.

Hampton hasn't achieved or even bothered to do the same with the English/American lines, which are all prose and lack any real poetry.

Claude Perron as Dorine is the only one who seems to have the tone (a mix of broad comedy and biting rage) that Moliere seemed to have intended. She's really great. But around her...

Also, there is a big weakness at the heart of this production, language aside, and that is the British actors, most especially Paul Anderson* in the title role.

Playing him as a hippy guru, Anderson was just annoying and somehow (and we still haven't worked out how) he managed to deflate any sense of comedy or drama from the 40mins prior to his entrance onstage. (Not that there was much of that if we're honest. A lot of it is so light, and just bickering.) He is the black hole of the production.

Was it the direction? Was it Paul himself? Was it the complete lack of chemistry/electricity/drama between Anderson & Audrey Fleurot (weak)?

Whatever, that first scene between them was just dull dull dull & sounded the death knoll for this production It never really picked up after that.

The younger actors played it like a high school play.

And the chortling from the audience as mentioned by others was just that. And quite forced at times.

The L.A. setting is mentioned in the flyer but given no heed or point in the actual production.

In fact, the more we thought about it, the more of a sort of numbing-mess we felt it was.

Oh, and there's a "party" with "movement" that Rufus Norris would be proud of at the very start of it all. Note how the performers never engage with each other.

They never really engage their audience either.

Don't race to it.

* Having slated Paul Anderson, we had to admit he is credited for the Lighting and in this arena he is much better. He should probably stick to that side of the theatre profession.

Hmm, what's on between this and The Band I wonder? Hopefully something decent.

Is that the name of a show or your feelings about the theatre and its offerings?!!😉

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Paul Anderson s performance in this it’s just that after seeing him in Peaky Blinders, he seems to be far too reined in playing Tartuffe-it needs someone to really go for it, a performance along the lines of Daniel Day Lewis in Gangs Of America that really goes at it hammer and tongs and dominates the play. As it is, I wasn’t really convinced why anyone would want to give Tartuffe everything.

My bad, that should of course be Gangs of New York, silly me...

Unfortunately I had a feeling all along it would be reviewed like this. I hope for the Haymarket's sake they can get something good in there in August. I wonder what is happening as regards the sale?

I don't think this would necessarily be good news. It needs someone or a company with real experience and vision. I was hoping one of the usual suspects would get it.

If we're thinking of the same person he is, according to The Sunday Times, the 3rd richest person in the country, with a net worth 15 times that of Cam Mack.

He also owns Warner Music, so knows a little about showbiz!