A holy fraud tries to bang your whole family—Molière knew Twitter discourse in 1664.
Donald Moffat stars in Moliere's classic comedy about lovable scoundrel Tartuffe, who befriends the wealthy Orgon and then attempts to seduce both his new friend's wife and daughter in this TV presentation from the Broadway Theatre Archive. Tartuffe pretends to be a pious man whose faith convinces Orgon and his family to succumb to his influence, but he's undone when his womanizing ways make it clear that his piety is a charade.
Acting
Moffat's slimeball charisma is chef's kiss.
Production
Broadway Theatre Archive preserves the theatrical energy.
Director
Kirk Browning
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Louis XIV banned this play twice because it offended the Catholic Church—Molière died still fighting to stage it.
This 1978 TV version preserves a rare Broadway staging with Victor Garber pre-Titanic fame as the earnest Valere.
US
