A Misanthrope – Smock Alley Theatre – Review
by Frank L.

A Misanthrope – written by Matthew Minnicino, after Molière
Sugarglass & Smock Alley Theatre in association with Once Off Productions

The programme note states that Sugarglass, one of the producers, generates “new work with a focus on radically contemporary adaptations of classic plays”. Le Misanthrope is a 17th-century comedy of manners written in verse by Moliere, set in French aristocratic society and was first performed in 1666 in Paris. Minnicino sets his adaptation in Dublin in the milieu of the new aristocracy, the Silicon Docks megacorp; Frans. It is “brimming with pissants, posers and plutocrats all grubbing for power and pleasure”. But while Minnicino moves the mise-en-scene, he is true to Molière in that the script is written in verse, mostly rhyming couplets.

Alceste (Matthew Malone) is at the pinnacle of Frans. which is a minefield of office warfare and personal ambitions filtered through the jargon of HR. His voracious lover Celimene (Emer Dineen) dominates him as she promotes her new venture, Politesse, which she hopes will liberate her from the world of Frans and its hangers-on. And there are in this category quite a few: Oronte (Michael Tiente), Clitandre (Adrian Muykanovich), Philente (Darragh Feehely), Eliante (Brigid Leahy), Dubois (Heather O’Sullivan), Acaste (Naoise Dunbar) and Arsino (Fiona Bell). There are umpteen scene changes performed, as necessary, by slick and stylish movements by the cast of a couple of office tables and various red chairs. Apart from the opening sequence between Acaste and Alceste, which is comparatively sedate, the rest is action-packed and fast-moving. The cast keeps you alert as the various intrigues unfold.

One of the pleasures of this production is the clarity of the actors as they enunciate their lines in verse. Each delivers the text as if speaking in verse were their usual means of communication. In this array of verbal skills, mention of Fiona Bell must be made. As Arsino, une femme d’un certain age, she delivers, bestriding the entire stage, a tirade of immense verbal power. It was electrifying, and the audience burst out into a spontaneous round of applause.

This is a stylish and slick production which lasts, including an interval, about two and a quarter hours. Once the workers “clock in” at the start of the performance by presenting their lanyards to a portal so that they can enter their office space, you see a world of high intrigue, competing jealousies and ambitions, sexual competition and much else besides. Your brain is alive as you leave the auditorium. It is innovative and joyous theatre.

Age Suitability: 16+
Warnings: Strong language / Sexual references

WRITTEN BY By Matt Minnicino, after Molière
DIRECTED BY Marc Atkinson Borrull
SET & COSTUME DESIGN Molly O’Cathain
CO-COSTUME DESIGN & COSTUME SUPERVISION BY Sorcha Ní Fhloinn
LIGHTING DESIGN John Gunning
COMPOSITION & SOUND DESIGN Martha Knight
MOVEMENT DIRECTION Stephanie Dufresne
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Connor Mickiewicz
INTIMACY DIRECTOR Paula O’Reilly
PRODUCED BY Cally Shine and Maura O’Keeffe, Once Off Productions
PRODUCTION MANAGER Veronica Foo
STAGE MANAGER Sara Gannon
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER Dragana Stevanić
COMPANY MANAGER Morgan Steele, Once Off Productions
WARDROBE MAINTENANCE Maisey Lorimer
CHIEF LX Suzie Cummins
PHOTO Patricio Cassinoni with Art Direction by Molly O’Cathain
REHEARSAL PHOTOGRAPHY & SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT Nathan Snow
PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPHY Ros Kavanagh

CAST: Fiona Bell, Emer Dineen, Naoise Dunbar, Darragh Feehely, Brigid Leahy, Matthew Malone, Adrian Muykanovich, Heather O’Sullivan, Michael Tient