The Misanthrope
Written by: Moliere translated by Tony Harrison
Directed by: Anna Brenner
Performed by: Matt Biagini, Elisa Matula, Michael Guagno, Maylin Murphy, Fatih Gençkal, Johanna Weller-Fahy, Mike James, Wil Petre, Ross Cowan, Rachael Richman, and James Rutherford
Nicolas Benacerraf (set), Ásta Bennie Hostetter (costume), Yi Zhao (light)
Stage Managed by: Sarah Helgesen
The Misanthrope is an ensemble-created contemporary explosion of Moliere’s classic social comedy inspired in equal part by Ingmar Bergman, indie rock, and the New York rental market, it explores the nature of desire in our generation. The world is both familiar and strange – set in present day New York among a group of artists and intellectuals, The Misanthrope looks at how we form and destroy our social communities. Feelings of love, desire, jealously and insecurity are masked and unmasked throughout the play in comedic and dramatic fashion with music, movement, and verse.
About the Company
The ensemble of actors and designers assembled for The Misanthrope are the result of successful collaborations and friendships nurtured by Columbia University’s MFA Theatre program, The University of Chicago, Brown University, Williamstown Theatre Festival, The SITI Company and in theaters and apartments throughout New York City.
Project History
The Misanthrope began as a scene assignment in Anna Brenner’s MFA directing program with Brian Kulick at Columbia University. Matt Biagini and Elisa Matula played Alceste and Célimène.
This show ran July 16 & 19 at 7:30pm, July 17 & 18 at 9:30 pm, 2009.
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