His biting satire, witty dialogue, and irreverent staging have made him a favorite with theatergoers for four centuries. This Norton Critical Edition of Moliere s most controversial and most often-performed play is based on Constance Congdon s acclaimed new verse translation. It is accompanied by explanatory annotations and nine illustrations of the seventeenth-century farce.

Backgrounds and Sources draws readers attention to the real-life controversy Moliere faced following the opening of Tartuffe, which was immediately banned by the Church. Both sides of the argument surrounding Tartuffe are presented in contemporary documents translated and annotated by Virginia Scott, among them Moliere s three petitions to King Louis XIV, Pierre Roulle on the monarchy, letters by Boileau and Charles Robinet, and Hardouin de Perefixe on the law.

Assessments of Tartuffe as a production are given in seminal reviews by Harold Clurman and John Peter. Constantin Stanislavsky and Louis Jovet discuss the challenges they faced in preparing for modern productions of Tartuffe.

From the wealth of critical commentary on Tartuffe both in the United States and in France, the editors have chosen nine interpretations focusing on the central issues of translation, religion, social history, staging, and international adaptation. Contributors include Nancy Senior, Emanuel S. Chill, Roger W. Herzel, P. Munoz Simonds, Pamela Saur, William J. Beck, Mechele Leon, Wilma Newberry, and Cheryl Kennedy McFarren.

A Chronology of Moliere s life and work and a Chronology are included."

"Blends caustic but sensitive looks at earthly ills with a mad black humor...a haywire vaudeville show."--New York Newsday

Comedy / Characters: 5 male, 2 female

Scenery Requirements: Simple set

Peter and Madeline have been friends since they were teenagers in Queens. They have Manhattan apartments and separate unsatisfactory sex lives. Though more loving than most couples and searching for partners, they are incompatible: he is gay. Maddi is overweight and drawn to men who treat her badly. He hides behind snappy retorts and skepticism. Maddie's alcoholic mother, Peter's father, lovers, pickups and friends with AIDS move through their lives. A homeless teenager, a thief and a poet who would rather be called a whore than a hustler because he doesn't try that hard address the audience to throw everyone's problems into perspective. Dog Opera was first produced Off Broadway at The Joseph Papp Public Theatre.

"Insinuates itself into the consciousness like a conversation in the next booth at a diner.... Everything slowly comes to together to form a coherent, sometimes funny and finally moving contemporary comedy.... It's a singular work created by an imagination of redeeming freedom and eccentricity." N.Y. Times.