Molière in The Park: The Miser

Step into a world of biting absurdity and timeless truths with Molière in the Park’s The Miser, re-imagined for today’s world.

Cast: Starring MaYaa Boateng, Alana Raquel Bowers, Francesca Faridany, Lisa Gorlitsky, Lakisha May, Ismenia Mendes, Daniel Pearce, and Calvin Leon Smith! Translated and adapted by David Chambers. Directed by Lucie Tiberghien. Creative team: Producer: Garth Belcon , Set: Marie Yokoyama , Lights: Stoli Stolnack, Costumes: Jessica Irvin, Composer: Paul Brill

Background: Written in 1668 and presented upward of 2500 times over the next 350 years at the Comédie Française alone, “The Miser” is Molière’s most successful play, both in France and internationally. With this production, MIP will once again reinvent Molière for today’s world while also keeping with our desire to stay true to the original French. We will both lean into non-traditional casting choices, including casting women in male roles and swapping genders, to highlight persistent biases, deconstruct existing power dynamics, and look into the barrel of existential paranoia and greed. Additionally, with the permission of David Chambers, certain passages will be revised employing direct translation from the original French.

The Story: Harpagon, a newly widowed geezer, consumed by fear of losing his wealth, will do anything to save his fortune. When he announces that he has found love again and is ready to wed, the ultimate rebellion begins. Through a series of outlandish events and misunderstandings, the entire household is forced to face the true cost of Harpagon’s folly before they see the light again.

A note from Board President, Kaliswa Brewster: We are thrilled to be able to bring our third free production to Brooklyn’s backyard, Prospect Park. This year, we are aiming to reach 7,000 individuals, for many of whom, experiencing theater will be a first. In this time of division and unrest, we believe that live theater can unite and heal. Molière’s plays written in France 350 years ago may seem like unlikely vehicles to look at the social and political issues of our times but surprisingly, they always question, confront, provoke and demand that we pay attention. Rather than preach, they hold up a mirror and ask us to look, and laugh. Brooklyn is a microcosm of The United States and of the global world, it is home to every type of person, from every culture and every background. MIP’s goal is to break through the silos and foster community across all of our micro groups. What does it look like to create a theater space where everyone feels welcome and at home? We believe it looks like Molière in the Park- where people from all walks of life are sitting together shoulder to shoulder, breathing the same air, laughing and reflecting, together.

Produced by Molière in the Park, in partnership with LeFrak Center at Lakeside, Prospect Park Alliance and in collaboration with The Brooklyn Public Library.