Taproot Theatre Company in Seattle, will host a free event called “Comedy as Commentary,” this Tuesday, February 7 at 7:30 p.m. This event will be the first in Taproot’s new “Conversations” series that will be taking place throughout the 2012 season. This is sure to be a lively discussion about what makes humor such a powerful tool.
A panel of theatre professionals will be on hand to discuss the role of comedy in today’s art and entertainment culture. Panelists include:
- Jeff Berryman (Actor/Playwright)
- Misha Berson (Theatre & Arts Critic, The Seattle Times)
- Kathy Hsieh (Actor/Director, SIS Productions)
- Karen Lund (Associate Artistic Director, Taproot Theatre Company)
- Brian Willis (Playwright, Northwest Playwrights Alliance).
“Comedy as Commentary” is a free event, but guests are encouraged to RSVP in advance due to limited seating. You can do so by contacting Sonja Lowe by phone at 206.529.3666 or by email no later than February 6.
This event is in conjunction with the theatre’s new production of “Tartuffe” (pronounced “tar-TOOF”) that debuted this week and continues until March 3. Taproot describes the play like this:
“Molière’s comic masterpiece brings us a con artist extraordinaire who oozes piety and charm. Will Tartuffe’s hypocrisy be discovered before Orgon’s household is turned on its head? Enjoy lightning-quick wit, star-crossed lovers, a badgering grandma and a plot that could be ripped from a Saturday night comedy show.”
"Tartuffe” was written in 1664 by Moliere who believed that the “duty of comedy is to correct men by amusing them.” Unfortunately, many of his contemporaries didn’t feel the same way and banned the play. “The more I read it, the more modern it feels,” director Karen Lund said about this powerful story of grace. She hopes the audience will, “take a kernel of truth about life” while falling in love with the stylized absurdity that comes to life on stage through various forms of comedy.
Both events will be presented at Taproot Theatre located at 204 N. 85th Street, Seattle, 98113. Tickets for “Tartuffe” range from $22-$37 depending on the performance. It will be presented Wednesday and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday matinees at 2 p.m. For tickets to “Tartuffe,” call 206.781.9707 or order online.
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