Tartuffe

Thoughts on the play:

Some parts are MAD fun with a capital MAD.   For example the opening seems to begin  in medias res and we thought it would be fun to have Mme Perenelle packing a case, throwing things to Flipote and Dorine and others intervening.  Thus it could be that Damis ends up trying to stop his Granny from leaving while accidentally ending up with a giant pair of her bloomers in his hand and her subsequent dismisal of him ("...an idiot...I kept telling your father").

Shortly thereafter, however, the dialogue becomes a discussion of morals which would seem more at home as a lesson in church, or a sermon from a pulpit than as dialogue between the characters.  We have therefore decided to play these parts with the audience - right into the audience, in fact.  We reasoned that if they are wanting to debate matters of right and wrong, they might at least debate with the audience rather than with each other.

Footnote:

Watched Steve Coogan film "Hamlet 2" last night and, while it made me laugh, also found it disturbingly familiar.....