Molière’s ‘Tartuffe’ Opens New Season at Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey

Posted on May 14, 2018 by Karen Nowosad

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey opens their 2018 season this week with a presentation of Tartuffe. This marks the first time since 2001 that Tartuffe will play at the Madison, NJ theater. Written by Molière, this French comedy is described as follows:

Tartuffe, the consummate con man, hypocrite, and womanizer, meets his match under Molière’s deft pen. A masterpiece of biting social commentary brilliantly enclosed in a swirl of witty verse, outrageous characters, and delightful machinations; the 17th century family featured in this serious comedy will feel very familiar to 21st century Americans.

Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte directs this production. Renowned translator Richard Wilbur brings Molière’s witty words to life for English-speaking audiences.

Casting includes Brent Harris (Tartuffe), Patrick Toon (Orgon), William Sturdivant (Cléante), Victoria Mack (Dorine), Aaron McDaniel (Damis), Sarah Nicole Deaver (Mariane), Drew Dix (Monsieur Loyal), Caroline Kinsolving (Elmire), Garrett Gray and Mark Hawkins.

Purchase tickets at The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre located at 36 Madison Avenue in Madison or by calling the Box Office at 973-408-5600 or by going online at www.ShakespeareNJ.org. Various cost-saving opportunities for tickets are available, including $15 student rush tickets, which are available 30 minutes prior to each performance with a valid student ID and a limited number of Pay What You Can tickets.

know the show

There are opportunities for the audience to learn more about the play by attending the Symposium Series performances.  These performances offer a post-show discussion with the cast and artistic staff. For Tartuffe, the Symposium Series performances will be held following the Tuesday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, May 26 at 2:00 p.m., and Saturday, June 2 at 2:00 p.m. performances.

Additionally, the Know the Show pre-show talks are offered free-of-cost. Prior to the show, an artist from The Shakespeare Theatre presents a pre-performance talk providing background information and an inside perspective on the production. This program is free with the purchase of a performance ticket. This presentation for Tartuffe will be held on Thursday, May 24 at 7:00 p.m., with the show beginning at 8:00 p.m.

Additional services

The Shakespeare Theatre offers Open Caption performances on the first Sunday performance of every Main Stage production. The Open Caption performance for Tartuffe will be on Sunday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m.

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‘The Nerd’ Might Get You to Rethink Your House Guest Invitations

Posted on May 6, 2018 by Karen Nowosad

(L to R) Colin Hanlon, Jonathan Kite, Kate Reinders and Zach Shaffer in Larry Shue’s comedy, “The Nerd,” at George Street Playhouse, April 24 – May 20, 2018. (Photo: T. Charles Erickson)

What happens when somebody comes to your home for a visit and won’t leave. Even worse, what happens when that house guest turns out to have such outrageous behavior that he becomes a nightmare that won’t end? This situation is presented in The Nerd, now playing at New Brunswick’s  George Street Playhouse.  The good news is that the house guest’s antics are absolutely hilarious and they give rise to many funny situations. The Nerd is a very funny show to see which also has a surprise ending. This review won’t even hint at that ending except to  say it restores one’s faith in human nature after it gets humorously ripped to shreds!

The Nerd first premiered in 1981. Written by American actor/playwright Larry Shue, it ran on Broadway from 1987 – 1988.  This production at George Street Playhouse is directed by popular actor Kevin Cahoon.  Mr. Cahoon’s fine direction of The Nerd showcases some crazy stage antics. The antics stand out as believable because the characters seem all too real. However, some of them are the type of people you probably don’t want to know. A good example is Clelia, the mother who gets her stress relief from her child by breaking dishes or anything that is convenient. That child, Thor, is a real brat and his actions on stage give rise to a lot of laughs as well as Clelia’s compulsion to break things.

Jonathan Kite in Larry Shue’s comedy, “The Nerd,” at George Street Playhouse, April 24 – May 20, 2018. (Photo: T. Charles Erickson)


The play begins with a birthday party for Willum. His friends Axel and Tansy, who briefly dated at one point, are present. Tansy has a definite interest in Willum. He also is interested in her but they have not moved forward on anything romantically. Also at the party are Willum’s client Waldgrave, his wife Clelia, and their son Thor.

Willum excitedly learns that the army buddy who saved his life in Vietnam is due to be at the party. The buddy’s name is Rick and the two have never actually met as he was unconscious when saved. So when Rick arrives dressed in a Halloween costume, the confusion is even greater and funnier.

Rick eventually takes off his Halloween costume to reveal an outfit that draws some laughs. And that is the start of everything going crazy. Rick, who works in a chalk factory, is just so out of tune with life and in some cases manners that it turns out to be hilarious.

Rick’s visit with Willum turns out to be never-ending. Willum doesn’t have the gumption to ask him to leave as he feels he owes him his life. It is only after Rick manages to mess up his relationship with his major client, Waldgrave, that he knows he must end the visit.  With the help of his friends Axel and Tansy, a plan is put in action to get Rick to leave. The playing of the plan provides some amazingly funny moments in the show. But the outcome will not be disclosed here. See it for yourself!

The very talented cast includes Jonathan Kite as Rick.  His expressions and speaking mannerisms alone make this a play worth seeing.   Colin Hanlon plays the long suffering and overly patient Willum.  Zach Shaffer plays his concerned and caring friend Axel.  Tansy the love interest is played by Kate Reinders.  Playing the dish breaking Clelia is Ann Harada with Stephen Wallem in the role of her husband Walgrave. Hayden Bercyas plays the antsy 8-year-old Thor Waldgrave.

With summer just around the corner, this play might lodge in your mind if you have invited guests to stay with you. We certainly hope it is not even close to what you will see in this show. But if it does, remember this play and go with it.

(L to R) Ann Harada, Stephen Wallem and Jonathan Kite in Larry Shue’s comedy, “The Nerd,” at George Street Playhouse, April 24 – May 20, 2018. (Photo: T. Charles Erickson)

additional information about ‘the nerd’

Run Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes with one 15 minute intermission

Location: George Street Playhouse, 103 College Farm Road, New Brunswtick, NJ 08901 (interim location while construction continues on their new venue)

Contact for Information and Tickets:  To purchase tickets or for more information, visit the George Street Playhouse website at www.GeorgeStreetPlayhouse.org, or call the box office at 732-246-7717. Show runs through May 20, 2018.

 

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‘The Shakespeare Conspiracy’ Opens the Battle of the Bards

Posted on April 30, 2018 by Karen Nowosad

Mateo D’Amato in ‘The Shakespeare Conspiracy Photo Credit – Brian Pachelli

The Shakespeare Conspiracy is playing at Theater Row now through May 5. This play is the first of two productions that make up the “Battle Of The Bards: The Christopher Marlowe Festival.” If you are a fan of the conspiracy theories that question whether Shakespeare actually wrote his own works, you may enjoy seeing this show. The Shakespeare Conspiracy centers on the life of Christopher Marlowe who is regarded by many as the foremost playwright and poet of the Elizabethan era. The play is presented by Fledgling Theater Company who provide an imaginative representation of this time period and the questions arising from it.

Written by Ted Bacino and Rufus Cadigan, The Shakespeare Conspiracy examines two ideas:

1. How did William Shakespeare become England’s greatest playwright virtually overnight when he was just a nameless actor who had never written anything before?

2. How could Christopher Marlowe, known spy and the previous reigning playwright in England, be suspiciously murdered and quickly buried in an unmarked grave just days before he was to be tried for treason?

Mateo D’Amato & Josh Jacobson in ‘The Shakespeare Conspiracy’ – Photo Credit – Brian Pachelli

A dark atmosphere prevails at the start of the play and carries throughout the entire story.  Hooded figures are inside the theater as people find their seats. The play begins with the hooded beings carrying out something that represents a dead body to signify the time period when a plague was killing people.

Christopher Marlowe appears with his male lover as the background of their lives together plays out.  They learn of people who are being put on trial for treason and losing their lives.  So when the call comes from Marlowe to come to trial, a plot is set in motion to hide him by claiming he was killed. He remains hidden in the mansion where the two lovers live and  they recruit a very uneducated William Shakespeare to serve as the source to deliver the plays that Marlowe writes. The credit for writing goes to Shakespeare while Marlowe creates masterpieces all the while the world thinks he is dead. As he continues years of hiding,  a constable is high on his tail.  He suspects that Marlowe is still alive and he tries to track him and catch him. The plot has more twists and turns that bring it to quite a surprising ending.

Strong acting develops the characterization on stage which is so crucial to the story line.  Under the direction of Jeremy Karafin, suspense and downright scary moments at times  develop the plot and makes it very believable.  The cast features Matthew Dalton Lynch, Mateo d’Amato, Jevon Nicholson, James M. Arthur, Paul Marquez, Dontonio Demarco, Temesgen Tocruray and Josh Jacobson.

The black box theater used for this show is small. There are only about 50 seats. But this intimate setting allows the audience to really feel a part of the action taking place. The stage is small but it doesn’t hamper the actors it all. They utilize the entire length of the theater going right up into an area that could normally be used for seating. This use of the space allows the audience to really get a sense in the feel of movement and tension that is taking place in this story.

This really is a superb production to see.  The Shakespeare Conspiracy will peak your interest in this fabulous debate of ideas.  What you end up with as a conclusion might differ from the ideas you have going in.

Information About ‘The Shakespeare Conspiracy’

Running Time: 120 minutes with one intermission

Location: Studio Theatre, Theater Row, 410 W. 42nd Street, New York City

Performances: April 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, May 2, 3, 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. and April 22nd, 29th at 2:00 p.m.

Contact for Info and Tickets: Theater Row’s website – http://www.theatrerow.org/

Suggested Audience: Theater goers who enjoy intense situations and mature situations

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