SF GATE, April 7, 2004

THE MISER
Moliere's rollicking farce of mistaken identity and greed.

-- Anna Mantzaris, special to SF Gate

You know the folks who look the other way when the bill comes, never chip in for gas money and don't like to break twenties? They've got nothing on Harpagon. Jean-Baptiste Molière's miser is the ultimate, refusing to fork over payment for services rendered, arranging his children's marriages with only gold in mind and skimping on everything from clothes to mouthwash. The Shotgun Players kick off their oh-so-generous season of free theater with the satirical tale, penned in 1668, of a man who pinches a few too many pennies. Brilliantly portrayed by the energetic Clive Worsley, Harpagon announces the carefully calculated marriage arrangements for himself and his offspring. But the nuptial plans are anything but a good deal to son Cleante, a boy forced to gamble to keep himself in good threads, and daughter Elise, a sweet yet not-so-sharp woman. The children, along with an eclectic cast of characters, including a matchmaker, a chef/horseman/servant and a policeman, find themselves in a tangled web that explores timeless themes of greed, love and human nature. Peppered with contemporary and local references, the modern translation by David Chambers, directed by Patrick Dooley, showcases a wealth of talent.