(Un)tragic Tartuffe
This modern interpretation by students from the Slovenian Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television dealt the cards a little differently - there will be no second round! No consolation prizes, just a winner and a loser.
The traditional satirical view of the Catholic faith, the family as a dysfunctional social order, or the inevitable ills of mankind are sketched out in caricature by this Slovenian company, often accompanied by biological instincts and flirting. However, the focus of the directorial and dramaturgical attention is not on the basic themes of Molière's verse classic. The usual happy ending with its moral lesson comes in a twisted form, but one which – for our times – seems realistic.
Tartuffe's sanctimoniousness is exposed and adequately punished, but as he loses the trust of the family to which he has been appointed, he takes his cheap tricks to higher ground - the royal palace. The (un)tragic conclusion points to the apparent evolution of human cunning and the decline of sober rationality, but this rather modern interpretation falls flat in the remaining sections due to an excessive and futile climax.
The interesting overall concept and the variety of symbols in the set design are betrayed by other chaotic elements that overwhelm the production. The imbalance between situational humour and unnecessarily overdone parody results in kitsch, and the way props are grouped makes only vague sense. This unconventional take on Tartuffe grabs our attention, but the climax leaves us unsatisfied in the end.
