The Liar: An Adaptation of 17th Century French Comedy

Monday, May 18, 2015

Kemea Smith, GoLocalPDX Contributor

See The Liar at Artists Repertory Theatre May 26th to June 21st.

The Artists Repertory Theatre ends its 2014/15 season with David Ives' The Liar, an adaptation of Pierre Cornielle’s 17th Century French comedy.

“Our purpose with The Liar is pure, irresistible fun – Ives finds a way to make iambic pentameter and rhyming couplets feel fresh, modern and effortlessly accessible,” said Dámaso Rodriguez, Artists Rep’s Artistic Director who is directing the play.

The fast pace comedy includes classic tales of mistaken identities, outrages misassumptions, and tangled truths. Expect antiquated twists, clever verses, and plenty of takes from Corneille’s neo-classical original.

“We’ve added to the mix a cast of some the funniest and most charismatic young actors in Portland and a bold, totally irreverent design that’s one part Three Musketeers and a little bit Rock ‘n’ Roll,” says Dámaso Rodriguez.

The original 17th century play by dramatists Corneille, was first performed in 1644. Corneille got the inspiration from La Verdad Sospechosa by the Spanish-American playwright Juan Ruíz de Alarcón.

“My version of the play is what I call a ‘translaptation,’ i.e., a translation with a heavy dose of adaptation,” wrote Ives in the playbill for the 2010 world premiere production at Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC.“Everything about [this play] spoke to me. The rippling language. The rich simplicity of the premise. The gorgeousness of the set pieces.”

The Liar, Artists Repertory Theatre – Alder Stage, 1516 SW Alder Street, May 26 – June 21, 2015, Opening Night May 29th, $25-$55. For more information and to buy tickets, click HERE.

Homepage Photo Credit: Artists Repertory Theatre