Theaterian’s Tartuffe exposes hypocrisy in a bold Bengali adaptation
Theatre troupe Theaterian has staged Tartuffe, a sharp satire on religious hypocrisy, at the Experimental Theatre of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. The play, written by French playwright Molière and directed by Shuvashish Sarker Shanto, premiered on Thursday before its Friday performance. This marks Theaterian’s second production, following their earlier work at the same venue.
The story centres on Orgon, a wealthy man blinded by devotion to Tartuffe, a fraud posing as a pious figure. Played by Md Abdul Hai, Orgon even plans to marry Tartuffe to his daughter Mariane and hand over his fortune. Amirul Mamun took on the role of the cunning Tartuffe, while Poly Chowdhury portrayed Elmire, Orgon’s sharp-witted wife.
Tartuffe’s true nature unravels when he attempts to seduce Elmire. She exposes his deceit with Orgon’s help, leading to a confrontation. In retaliation, Tartuffe tries to evict Orgon from his own home using forged legal papers. The production used Lokenath Bhattacharya’s Bengali translation of Molière’s original, with minor adaptations for clarity. Dhiman Chandra Barman handled the stage design, lighting, and overall direction, ensuring the satire’s biting tone remained intact.
The play’s run at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy highlights Theaterian’s growing presence in local theatre. By blending classic French satire with Bengali adaptation, the troupe brought Molière’s critique of hypocrisy to a modern audience. The production’s staging and performances aimed to make the 17th-century work feel fresh and relevant.
