Tartuffe

Tartuffe follows an opulent family in 17th Century as they attempt to show their father that the man he has taken in is a religious hypocrite. Tartuffe attempts to act as a pious man with little to no material possessions as he convinces Orgon he is a good person. Under his influence Orgon tries to make his daughter marry Tartuffe, denounces his own son, and gives Tartuffe the deed to everything he owns. After his wife proves to him that Tartuffe is a hypocrite they are given their home back thanks to the king.
The most important themes I noticed in the play were Extremism vs. Moderation, Pride, and Power Structures. Throughout the show Orgon becomes so absorbed by Tartuffe that he cannot see anything else. He willing sacrifices his family multiple times in favor of Tartuffe.

By setting the play in a dining room it is easier to play and represent the power struggles within the family. Additionally the gilded age was similar to the original time period with the eminence opulence and disparity. It was also a huge time for dinner parties as the wealth had excess money for food and hosting. Moderation is reflected in the walls. Covered by the same fabric in the purple vestments of a priest under the Christian and catholic religion. This abstraction puts more focus on the religious hypocrisy of the show. Orgon’s house is covered in the purple silks that represent sacrifice and preparation (all the things Tartuffe falsely preaches) while also being extremely expensive to acquire at such a large scale. Additionally the sheer amount of fabric is extreme and shows how consumed Orgon is with the ideas he is being fed by Tartuffe.