Molière's play Le Misanthrope (1666) is renowned for being a classic satire of 17th-century French aristocratic society, depicting scenes in which characters engage in polite social conventions underscored by falsity and back-talk. Amongst this setting, the play's own misanthrope, Alceste, is distinguished by his ability to cast a critical light upon the petty lives of the characters which surround him.
Synopsis and Setting of Martin Crimp's The Misanthrope
Martin Crimp's own modern-day version tellingly chooses the Hollywood scene as its subject and London as its setting, casting the high-grossing actress Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Carribean, Atonement) into the role of the flighty Celimène (known as "Jennifer" in Crimp's version). The result is a 21st-century satire which manages to be both biting and playful, whilst still paying homage to the iambic rhythms and rhyming tropes of Moliere's poetry.
The action unfolds in the genteel suite of a fashionable London hotel. The audience is introduced to the play's protagonist Alceste, a bitterly frustrated playwright who claims to hate the human race. However, Alceste's feeling are conflicted; he is in love with the young American actress Jennifer, who embodies the vacuous Hollywood scene on which he so vocally casts his derision.
Jennifer, herself adored by many other men, claims to love Alceste back. However, her claims of affection ring hollow in Alceste's ears, determined as he is that her desire to please others in exchange for their fawning admiration is a sure sign of a lack of fidelity. Other parodic characters enter the fray, including the self-important critic and dramatist Covington, the love-struck feminist journalist Marcia and Alceste's tolerant friend John.
Casting and Dialogue
The shoes of the play's malcontent are filled by British actor and producer Damian Lewis (Band of Brothers, Forsythe Saga) who is best known for his work in television dramas. He makes for a convincingly frustrated Alceste, striding the stage and booming his criticisms at whoever is willing to listen. In contast, Keira Knightley's depiction of Jennifer is airy and light, dismissive of Alceste's behaviour and at times stridently vapid. In fact, much of the humour of the play relies on the mismatched nature of their relationship and Alceste's efforts to drill some truth into his muse's conscience.
The other characters effectively build up the play's hollow celebrity scene and act as vehicles for the play's numerous side-plots and love intrigues. Tim McMullan is particularly entertaining as the critic-turned-playwright Covington (The Queen, Shakespeare in Love) whilst Dominic Rowan's depiction of Alceste's friend John provides some healthy balance to the play.
Director Thea Sharrock manages to keep impressively in touch with Molière's couplets and poetic rhythms, whilst readapting the archaic dialogue to modern purposes – complete with expletives and allusions to contemporary society. The effect is surprisingly effective; rhythmic interchanges keep the dialogue lively and the odd swear word raises laughs amongst the audience.
Credit must be given here – readapting classical poetic drama to modern audiences is a common pitfall and the final result can often ring trite. However, the script is well-written enough to utilise this 17th-century convention to great comic effect. All in all, The Misanthrope hits the funny bone more than it misses it.
- Dates: 17 December 2009 - 13 March 2010
- Director: Thea Sharrock
- Venue: Comedy Theatre, London
- Cast: Damian Lewis, Keira Knightley, Tara Fitzgerald, Dominic Rowan
- Running Time: 2 hrs 10 mins
- Box Office: (+44) 020 7492 1593
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