Burnsville High School Theatre Guild to perform ‘Tartuffe’ at an Evening of One Acts

What can happen when an interloper pretends to be righteous to gain wealth and power?

Burnsville High School Theatre Guild will explore this question in upcoming performances of French playwright Moliere’s 1664 comedy “Tartuffe,” adapted by Noyce Burleson. With a cast and crew of 17, “Tartuffe” is the Guild’s 2024 Competition One Act play and will be featured in the Guild’s Evening of One Acts on Jan. 26 and 27 at 7 p.m. at Burnsville High School’s Mraz Center.

“It’s truly a pleasure and honor to work with such talented students,” says Director Mark Hubbard. “I’m glad they are being challenged by a script that is introducing them to classical literature and a piece that illustrates how we can all be manipulated.”

In addition to Tartuffe, the Evening of One Acts will include one-act performances by Eagle Ridge Middle School Theatre and Nicollet Middle School Theatre. General admission tickets are $10 and are available at the door.

Banned by the King of France, "Tartuffe" satirizes hypocrisy, blind piety and deceit. Tartuffe (played by senior Christina Peterson) is a religious hypocrite who ingratiates himself into the lives of Orgon (senior Victoria Jacobson) and his mother Madame Pernelle (sophomore Chelsea Sally). He is taken into their home and promised Orgon’s daughter’s hand in marriage, even as he secretly attempts to seduce Orgon’s wife, Elmire (junior Kenzie Bunnell).

Everyone else in the family sees Tartuffe for who he really is. But is it too late to save them from tragedy?

“Noyce Burleson’s contemporary adaptation of Moliere’s original five-act play offers a refreshingly brilliant and concise take on the classic,” Hubbard says.

Burnsville High School Theatre Guild has been entertaining, educating, and enriching Burnsville and the surrounding communities through the performing arts since 1960.