Theatre review: Moliere | Elitsm Le Misanthrope | Keira Knightley | National Theatre

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The Review - THEATRE by JOSH LOEB
Published: 20 November 2009

Keira Knightly

Molière is à la mode

THE MISANTHROPE
Comedy Theatre

A VERSION of French playwright Molière’s 17th century sideswipe at elitism Le Misanthrope will start its run at the West End’s Comedy Theatre next month – and Hollywood megastar Keira Knightley will be playing the role of, er, a Hollywood megastar.
The new version of the famous comedy, which took aim at the decadent court of France’s Louis XIV, is set in modern-day London.
It has been adapted by Martin Crimp, who recently won critical approval for his version of Pains of Youth, which is currently playing at the National Theatre.
Le Misanthrope seems to be hugely popular in London at the moment; Molière’s original version, translated by Tony Harrison, is currently playing at Kennington’s White Bear Theatre, and Crimp’s version was recently staged at Holborn’s Bridewell Theatre by am-dram collective the Tower Theatre Company.
The play concerns Alceste, a misanthropic playwright who has the unfortunate habit of telling people what he really thinks of them (in rhyme) as part of some Quixotic quest for Truth.
But he is informed by his friend John: “If it’s the truth you’re after, the truth is that ranting moralists are met with ridicule and laughter.”
It is essentially a farce that none too subtly lays into the vanity and pomposity of celebrities, publicists, self-righteous writers and nauseating, over-hyped actresses.
As for how much Ms Knightley resembles in real life her character in the play, one could not possibly comment.

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