Archive

Identifier: Moliere1995

Inclusive Dates: January 11 - March 26 1995

Extent:

The Moliere Comedies (The School For Husbands and The Imaginary Cuckold) was staged at the Criterion Center Stage Right at 1530 Broadway, with first preview January 11, opening night February 2, and closing March 26, 1995. The production was first mounted at the Stratford Festival in Canada (under the direction of Michael Langham) in 1994 with Brian Bedford in the lead (but an otherwise different cast) and after closing on Broadway, the production moved to the Stamford Center For the Arts in Connecticut (under the direction of Langham and Mark Vietor) with a slightly altered cast but still with Bedford in the lead. The productions used Richard Wilbur's English verse translation.

The production was directed by Michael Langham with set design by Douglas Stein, costume design by Ann Hould-Ward, lighting design by Richard Nelson, sound design by Douglas J. Cuomo and One Dream Sound, and hair design by David H. Lawrence.

For The School For Husbands: Brian Bedford played Sganarelle, Remak Ramsay played Ariste, Patricia Dunnock played Isabelle, Cheryl Gaysunas played Leonor, Suzanne Bertish played Lisette, Malcom Gets played Valere, David Aaron Baker played Ergaste, Reg Rogers played Magistrate, Denis Holmes played Notary and Jeff Stafford played Attendant; for The Imaginary Cuckold: Remak Ramsay played Gorgibus, Cheryl Gaysunas played Celie, Patricia Dunnock played Celie's Maid, Brian Bedford played Sganarelle, Suzanne Bertish played Sganarelle's Wife, David Aaron Baker played Lelie, Reg Rogers played Gros-Rene, Jeff Stafford played Servant, Malcom Gets played Mme. Sganarelle's Brother, and Denis Holmes played Villebrequin. Understudies Elizabeth Rainer, April Black, Daniel Travis, Nick Sullivan.

The production was nominated for three Tony's [Best Revival of a Play, Best Actor (Brian Bedford) and Featured Actress (Suzanne Bertish)] as well as a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Revival. Frank Scheck of the Christian Science Monitor said "[the work was] staged and acted to perfection".

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (or more commonly known by his stage name, Moliere) was a 17th century French actor and playwright, widely considered one of the greatest satire writers in all of Western literature. The School for Husbands was written in 1661 and The Imaginary Cuckold in 1660.

The English translations, by Richard Wilbur, of The School for Husbands and The Imaginary Cuckold were published in 1992 and 1993 respectively.

Production files contained in one Hollinger box consisting of 14 folders. Collection lacks production script and most documents detailing artistic vision for the play (minor set and costume documentation is included). One folder is dedicated entirely to the production's move to Stamford Connecticut.

Digital files related to The Moliere Comedies 1995 contain scanned photographs,  scanned press clippings, scanned playbill, show art used by the marketing department to promote the production, one file pulled from discs maintained by production stage manager, Jay Adler, regarding green room, and the study guide prepared by the education department.

Photograph file contains 5 black and white production prints and two color slides depicting Brian Bedford in costume.

Access Restrictions: Open and available for research by appointment only.

Preferred Citation: The Moliere Comedies 1995, Roundabout Theatre Company Archives