"Tartuffe" Set in Sopranos’ New Jersey during Rutgers–Camden Performance

CAMDEN – Since Tony Soprano is not in business any longer, the Jersey mobster could easily take on the lead role in an upcoming Rutgers–Camden production of Moliere’s classic comedy Tartuffe.

According to its director Kenneth Elliott, assistant professor of theater at Rutgers–Camden, Tartuffe has striking parallels to The Sopranos, which is why he studied the popular TV drama to inform his production’s set and costume design. Both male leads - Tony in The Sopranos and Orgon in Tartuffe - are heads of dysfunctional households that include one daughter and one son, and are in the midst of midlife crises. Each plot is driven by how the protagonist seeks counsel from an outsider, Dr. Melfi and Tartuffe. Only the latter is a phony religious zealot who attempts to bamboozle Orgon.

While actual mob life won’t make it into the Rutgers–Camden production, the set design and regional sensibility of New Jersey will draw out the script: a new adaptation of Tartuffe by celebrated playwright Constance Congdon. Elliott selected Congdon’s adaptation for its contemporary sound and sense of humor as well as its nuanced classic French style of rhymed couplets. In addition, Elliott has asked his cast to not lose their Jersey accents while performing, but use them.

 “Tartuffe is a character that goes back centuries, but the story of a hyper-moralist actually being a letch is definitely still around. The modern setting and script will allow students and audience members to connect more easily with this great classic,” says the Rutgers–Camden director, who has directed many off-Broadway productions, including “Vampire Lesbians of Sodom,” “Psycho Beach Party,” and “The Boys in the Band.”

There will be five Rutgers–Camden performances of Tartuffe: 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19; 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Nov. 20-22, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23.

The cast includes Marcelo Carrascosa (BUENOS AIRES) as Valere; Patrick Castañeda (MENDHAM) as Orgon; Sean Cummings (CHERRY HILL) as Cleante; Michael Fisher (DELRAN) as Tartuffe; Lisa Green (PLEASANTVILLE) as Flipote; Angela Harmon (MOUNT HOLLY) as Dorine;  Kearstie Kaspar (CLAYTON) as Officer; Theo Langason (MINNEAPOLIS, MN) Damis; Mimi McKenna (CHERRY HILL) as Elmire; Brittany Robinson (LUMBERTON) as Mariane; and Dominick Ruggiero (MANTUA) as M. Loyal. Nancy Ellis, who teaches theater at Rutgers–Camden, will play the role of Madame Pernelle.

Technical direction and design of the production is by James Mobley, theater operations coordinator at Rutgers-Camden; costumes are by Mark Mariani, who has worked at the Prince Music Theater and the Walnut Street Theater; and sound design is by Stefan Örn Arnarson.

The Gordon Theater is located in the Fine Arts Complex on Third Street between Cooper Street and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge on the Rutgers–Camden campus. Admission is $10; $8 for seniors and Rutgers employees; $5 for students. Advance tickets are free for Rutgers–Camden students with identification and will be available at the Impact Booth.

For more information, visit rutgerscamdentheater.com or call (856) 225-6176.

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