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L'AFFAIRE TARTUFFE OR THE GARRISON OFFICERS REHEARSE MOLIÈRE
Marianne Ackerman
Reviewed by Gina Varty
Volume 22 Number 4
Past and present, reason and passion, the individual and the community, French and English. L'Affaire Tartuffe by Marianne Ackerman counters the Canadian myth of two solitudes with a complex story that transcends history, politics, and personal relationships. Inspired by an obscure historical anecdote (in 1774, British officers stationed in Montréal performed plays by Moliére in French), Ackerman transports a group of modern-day movie-makers back in time and they become the rehearsing garrison. This is a time and place where the politics of the Québec Act and the American threat, the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, and romances of the heart add many more dimensions to this multi-layered story. Written by an award-winning journalist and playwright, L'Affaire Tartuffe (three women, eight men) is a difficult read that challenges at many levels. It is a bilingual play within a play within a play. Although a complete translation of the French text is included in the appendix, the book is recommended for students familiar with the language and its historical significance. Otherwise, the play's linguistic truth of the transcendable distinction between the two solitudes will remain obscure. Gina Varty is the librarian with the Audio Visual Educational Library, United Church of Canada, in Edmonton, Alberta
The materials in this archive are copyright © The Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission Copyright information for reviewers
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