Molière is the second most produced Western playwright and most observers' choice for second greatest. While Shakespeare was surrounded by a half dozen other brilliant writers, Molière stood alone. Like Shakespeare, he stole or borrowed plots everywhere, using them as something to which to attach his ideas, and embraces characters from the aristocracy all the way down to country bumpkins. In fact, Molière sometimes makes the play about the bumpkin.
Also like Shakespeare, he died in his fifties after creating over thirty plays, and working primarily with one established company, under royal patronage. Both were investors in or part owners of their companies and both were actors. Molière even acted on the night of his death in 1673 playing, ironically, the title role in The Imaginary Invalid. Today, Theatre Français is rightly called The House of Molière.
Imagine a playwright of the 21st century managing to draw from vaudeville and the circus, honour the strictest rules of etiquette and most repressive lobbying groups, and serve the whims of a major tycoon who believes himself the centre of the universe, and still write strong satire. This is the genius of Molière
This is an audio recording of the ‘period personality’ featured in Chapter 7. Some of you may find you can relate better to this character by actually hearing his inflections and the way he times his ideas. It may also assist in providing examples of the kind of delivery that can work within Moliè style.
Moliere actor: Robert Barton, Interviewer: Andrew Barton