Tartuffe [Paperback]

A new sparkling and witty version by Roger McGough of Moli??re's comedy published as a programme text to accompany the premiere at the Liverpool Everyman on 9 May 2008.

Tartuffe is a beacon of piety and in the home of wealthy merchant Orgon he has his feet firmly under the table. But all is not as it seems and as Orgon becomes more enraptured with his new companion the whole city is chattering. Is he a friend, a fraud, a miracle or a hypocrite? The family smell a rat and amidst the frills and frivolity of seventeenth century society they hatch a cunning plan to outwit the wily deceiver before he brings their house crashing down.

Moli??re wroteTartuffein 1664 but the play was banned following its first production in Paris; it wasn't until 1669 that it was revived and became one of his greatest successes.

Moli??re (1622-73) is known as the greatest French writer of comedy. His plays includeThe Misanthrope,Tartuffe, andThe School for Wives, all available in an omnibus edition from Methuen Drama.

Award-winning poet, playwright and children's author Roger McGough made his name as one of the 'Liverpool Poets' with Adrian Henri and Brian Patten. His most recent book of poetry isEveryday Eclipses(2002) and hisCollected Poemswas published in 2003. He is a National Curriculum recommended poet for secondary English.