Molière: Tartuffe

Translated from French by Aleksys CHURGINAS

Director Oskaras Koršunovas: “Tartuffe is a ‘hero’ of our time: a consummate opportunist, careerist, pragmatist and libertine. To achieve his aims, this character stops at nothing. Of course, in this production he does not pretend to be a saint; rather, he is an excellent public relations specialist who understands that there is no better tool for deceiving the gullible than morality, which he manipulates cynically. Hypocrisy and lies are merely a way of shaping his image, while enriching himself at others’ expense is proof of strength and superiority. Tartuffes always profess the ‘religion’ of the day. In Molière’s time they had wormed their way into the Church; in Soviet times, into the Party; and now they are wherever Mammon is: in banks, politics, and so on. They are always ideologically correct and can dress the worst deeds in the finest words. The global financial crisis is a consequence of Tartuffism. This comedy is especially relevant in Lithuania today, where Tartuffism is flourishing. In this production I do not adhere solely to classical conventions: it includes both textual and action-based provocations. Molière himself sets some interesting conditions for staging the play. This author is incisive and relevant. No play in the world has ever caused as great a scandal as Tartuffe. It was the first dramatic work to become an international event, setting one of the greatest states against the most influential power, a superstate—the Papal court. In Lithuania, I see Tartuffism not in the Church, but among contemporary officials, in contemporary politics and business, where beautiful phrases abound, but corruption lurks behind them. How easily and cynically people are manipulated using the tools of propaganda and public relations… This is recognizable in the production. Unfortunately, the next generation is no more honest. It is simply better prepared for that manipulation, which was particularly evident in the liberals’ scandal. The liberals spoke openly about coming to smash corruption, but offered us the biggest slice of the corruption pie, which we are now cutting up.”