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by Molière, directed by Jean-Stéphane Roy

Théâtre français de Toronto, Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs, Toronto

April 21-May 6, 2006

Of all companies one would expect Théâtre français de Toronto to respect a text by Molière.  Instead, TfT has completely dumbed down Molière’s 1668 masterpiece L’Avare (The Miser).  Director Jean-Stéphane Roy so loads the production with pointless gimmicks and the performances with shtick, he turns this great work into a kind of live kiddie cartoon.  Needless screaming, shouting and modern interpolations from the miser’s maid (an annoying Michel Séguin) drown out all subtlety.  The excellent Guy Mignault makes the miser Harpagon a kind of perverse Don Quixote, more in love with money than any woman, and, luckily, is the least encumbered by Roy’s heavy hand. 

©Christopher Hoile

Note: A version of this review appeared in Eye Weekly 2006-04-27.

Photo: Guy Mignault as Harpagon and Patricia Marceau as Frosine.