About the Play:

The Miser is a full length comedy by Molière, translated by David Chambers. Populated by some of Molière's most memorable characters, particularly the ever-avaricious Harpagon, The Miser stands as one of the great comic masterpieces of all time. This translation, set in Harpagon's decaying Paris townhouse, follows the original plot carefully, but streamlines the action.

The Miser stands out as one of the great comic masterpieces of all time. The aging but vital Harpagon is hoarding every centime he can get his hands on, making sure that his two children, the virginal Elise and the dandy Cleante, live under his iron will. To complicate matters, Elise has fallen in love with the handsome Valere, who masquerades as a servant in the household, despite his noble birth, and, worse yet, Cleante and Harpagon are both smitten with the same woman, the beautiful, if somewhat dim, Marianne. Meanwhile, scheming servants and assorted hustlers angle for Harpagon's incredible wealth, much of which is now buried and protected by snarling Dobermans. The delirious plot spirals to a wildly comic finish, filled with all the masterful plot twists and outrageous revelations one would expect from one of Molière's finest plays.

The Miser was first staged in 1668 and is one of French playwright Molière's funniest and most enduring plays. This translation by David Chambers was first produced in 1993 by South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, California. It is regularly performed in regional, high school, college, and community theatre productions.

Cast : 3 female, 8 male (flexible casting).

What people say:

"With results ranging from clever to hilarious, translator David Chambers blends a pure line-for-line translation with the liberally political Henry Fielding version, resulting in a script both audaciously irreverent and intellectually true to Molière's 325-year-old original." — Variety

"The new, loony-tune mad Miser … spins the French comedy classic through a blackly funny, fun-house mirror." — Orange County Register

"The Miser is a perfect example of bringing an old story first to the 17th century (it premiered in 1668), and with this translation by David Chambers and updated to the 19th century ... continues to illuminate and resonate and challenge our sensibilities." — Ojai Valley News

About the Playwright:

Molière was the stage name of Jean Baptiste Molière (1622-1673). His plays achieved great success and elicited enormous controversy with their religious irreverence.

David Chambers is a director, teacher, writer and producer whose work has been seen On and Off-Broadway and at major theatres throughout the United States. He is currently a professor of acting and directing at the Yale School of Drama.