Music/Theater

(Photo by T. Charles Erickson) THE ANTAGONISTS: From the comfort of his luxurious canopied bed, the scheming Tartuffe (Zach Grenier) debates with Cleante (Christopher Donahue), a voice of reason represented here on a large video screen, in Daniel Fish’s production of Moliere’s “Tartuffe,” at McCarter’s Matthews Theatre through October 28.

Whose “Tartuffe” Is It Anyway? Moliere’s or Daniel Fish’s? Contemporary High-tech Spin Casts Dark Aura on 17th C. Comedy

Donald Gilpin

In the introduction to his 1963 verse translation of Moliere’s Tartuffe, Richard Wilbur urges actors and directors to “trust the words to convey the point and persons of the comedy, and trust them also to be sufficiently entertaining.” Moliere’s play, he goes on to argue, “resists the overextension of any thesis. The actor or director who insists on a stimulatingly freakish interpretation will find himself engaged in deliberate misreading and willful distortion, and the audience will not be deceived.”

Princeton University Orchestra Brings World-class Soloist for Season Opener

Nancy Plum

The Princeton University Orchestra scored a major coup in its season-opening concerts this past weekend. Rarely do student ensembles get the chance to perform with world-class soloists, but conductor Michael Pratt, celebrating his 30th year with the orchestra, took the opportunity to collaborate with a visitor to the University who also just happens to be one of the world’s finest pianists.