Tartuffe is a play that I have great personal attachment to.  It represents my first professional directing credit nearly 10 years ago; it solidified my love for Moliere, who was the subject of my thesis in graduate school; and it was my first time working with the inestimable Scott Wichmann.  Over the years we have collaborated on at least a half dozen productions and my awe and admiration for his talent, his generosity of spirit, and his endless inventiveness grows each time I have the pleasure to work with him.  We have vowed to come back to this play and this role every ten years until we are too old to climb the mountain Moliere has put in front of us.  I think we have a few more attempts left in us!

Why Tartuffe?  First and foremost, it is a great play!  But I firmly believe it is the role of the theatre artist to present entertaining work that examines, questions and challenges the world around him.  A con-artist uses religion to insinuate himself into a household and nearly succeeds in evicting the family from the house...As long as people have had faith, there has been people around to prey on that faith.  In our contemporary world, where people are so desperate for answers, for "truth", desperate to see black and white absolutes in a world made up of overwhelming shades of ambiguous grey, the con-man runs amuck.  Tartuffe comes in many disguises, from Jim Jones to David Koresh to Jim Baker to Fred Phelps to Ted Haggard and many many others (Pat Robertson?  Jerry Falwell?), there are people out there willing to use your faith and beliefs to their advantage. 

Finally I came to Kentucky three years ago as a man of no faith and rampant skepticism.  I am coming around (slowly) through the guidance of two very special men, for whom I dedicate this production to.  Reverend Albert Pennybacker and Pastor Ronald Luckey...if they can believe, and if they can see the hope in me, then perhaps humanity isn't such a lost cause...thanks for the support, gentlemen, and thanks for helping me find my way...Keep the faith!

Peace and Love
Richard (Rick) St. Peter
Director, Tartuffe

Comments

Post A Comment

©2008 ACTORS GUILD OF LEXINGTON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Web Design by eLink Design, Inc. | Hosted by QX.NET