Courtney Walsh and GreyWolfe in The Miser.

While thinking about how to review Ross Valley Players new production of Moliere’s The Miser (with an updated translation by David Chambers), I mulled over something serious to structure my thoughts around or some deep literary concept one could say runs through this comic classic.  Perhaps it’s the flexibility and universality of comedy.  Instead of traditionally presenting it as a comedy of manners, director Bruce Viera interprets it as a French farce (for example, Moliere meets the Marx Brothers).  And his Miser is pretty much pure Molierian silliness.

The traditional way to announce the play’s beginning is to have Master Jacques (Ben Knoll) pound the stage with a large walking stick.  But here, Jacques begins with a clap of his hands.  The show opens with the two children of the titled character (real name Harpagon, energetically played by GreyWolf) having both fallen in love.  Elise (the lovely Kelly Rinehart) hopes to marry Valere (Chad Yarish), her father’s steward; while Cleante (Seth Duerr), a Gene Wilder look alike, has fallen for a newcomer to town, Marianne (the darling Beth Deitchman).  Harpagon sees it as the worst sort of betrayal that his children would want to marry whom he chooses for them.  Not only does he not want Elise to marry Valere for financial reasons (he has an old rich guy in mind), but he wants to marry Marianne himself.  An affair has been arranged by local tart/busybody Frosine (a very seductive Courtney Walsh).  And numerous plot complications follow. 

Moliere uses many comic devices, including convoluted plots, exposed artificiality, and slapstick with lots of pratfalls and shoving.  Chambers’ new translation (peppered with many French phrases and expressions) has been adapted by director Viera and the cast.  And oftentimes the actors use fairly modern language and references.  They also get laughs by engaging the audience directly, even directing some of the characters’ abuse outward (when Harpagon’s cash box is stolen, he accuses the audience).    

Overall, the large and talented cast are hilarious caricatures.  But Chad Yarrish (Valere) stands out with his natural authentic presence‑— a breath of fresh air among the extravagant exaggerations.  And Fred Pitts (La Fleche, valet to Cleante) humorously understates his role.  GreyWolf brings Harpagon’s crotchety-ness to life in an over-the-top manner that Moliere certainly would have appreciated.  Also, David Apple’s sets are wonderful, and costumes by Michael A. Berg are fabulous.

Ross Valley Players’ The Miser is fun to see, and the actors are excellent. Though not likely to make you question how you treat your parents or children, or your relationship to money, you will laugh at the same things people enjoyed in 1668.  And that does provide a satisfying sense of kinship through humor from one era to another.  Coming up next (March 19-April 18) is The Boys Next Door by Tom Griffin. 

On Jan. 22 (Friday 6:45pm to 7:30pm) Ross Valley Players introduces something new:  A wine-and-cheese reception at the Barn.  Price $30 ($25 seniors 62+), includes two coupons per person for wine, the reception, and the show.  Tickets: call (415) 456-9555 ext.1 or at brownpapertickets.com. 

eservations recommended.

The Miser continues (Thursday to Sunday at various times) until Feb. 14 at RVP’s Barn Theatre, Marin Art & Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Ross.  Tickets ($15-$25) call (415) 456-9555 or at rossvalleyplayers.com.