Updated: Thursday, Apr. 19, 2001 at 22:03 CDT

TCU students excel in 17th-century play

The 17th-century play of that name by the great Moliere, which is being presented by the Texas Christian University Drama Department at the school's Hays Theatre, is a hilarious tale of a religious hypocrite who uses piety and deceit as a path to a cushy, work-free life. And although the play is an allegory for any example of exploitative leadership (the political overtones are heavy in this work) the fact that Moliere, from his vantage point in 17th- century France, could so accurately foreshadow the televangelists of the 20th century is just one of the keys to the universality and durability of this biting comedy.

Such parallels between the playwright's times and ours ring through clearly because the student actors at TCU do an excellent job with Moliere's timeless words and barbs in this mix of social satire and bedroom farce delivered in rhyming couplets.

TCU drama professor George Brown deserves high praise for all aspects of his efforts. Not only has he prepared his players extremely well (how many student productions do you see without a breakdown of some sort on opening night?) and created an Alan Aykbourne-type pace that raises the pitch of the comedy, but he also has numerous clever little touches in staging and stage business that add a great deal to the production, which he has moved from Moliere's time to the Napoleonic era.

There are several outstanding performances in this production, not a single poor one. John de los Santos, in the title role, is especially strong. Seeing him do this well with a role that does not suit him physically (he is not as grotesque as Tartuffe might be) makes you very much want to see him as a character he better fits.

David Fluitt, as Orgon, Tartuffe's most willing victim and the head of a divided household, is solid as a rock and is so well coiffed and made up that he even transcends the age problem inherent in student productions (yes, it all kind of looks like the cast of `Friends' doing a production of `Emma,' but you just have to ignore that). Shannon Atkinson plays Orgon's wife, Elmire, who is not buying what Tartuffe has to sell and is willing to use her feminine wiles to prove his deception. And Atkinson has wiles that could melt dry ice.

Steven Alford and Lindsey C. Alexiou, as Valere and Mariane, the young couple whose marriage is opposed by Tartuffe, are both just precious. Alexiou elevates stage crying (her character does more weeping than speaking) to an art.

The funniest character, however, is the uppity maid, Dorine. In this role, Louisa Lawless is a fine little scene-stealer who makes the absolute most of her part. But, as funny as she is, she perhaps makes too much of it. The one directorial flaw in this production is that her character should be reined in just a bit. She is too over-the-top too quickly and too often. She especially needs to tone down the mugging when she does not have lines.

The set designed by student Dallas Rainey and the costumes by TCU professor LeLonnie Lehman are superb.

About the only weakness in this production is its run. It concludes Sunday, after only five performances. With this much talent and effort spilling off the stage, these kids deserve another weekend.

`Tartuffe' runs through Sunday at Texas Christian University's Hays Theatre in Fort Worth. Show times are 8 p.m. through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Show runs two hours, five minutes with one intermission. Tickets are $3-$5; call (817) 257-5770.