Pomposity, Hilarity Meet in 'The Bourgeois Gentleman'

“The Bourgeois Gentleman,” Moliere’s hilarious comedy that paints a portrait of Monsieur Jourdain, whose obsessive desire to associate with the gentry takes over all reason and moderation, comes to Porter Theatre in November.

In the play, Monsieur Jourdain spends an outrageous amount of money on fashionable clothes, lessons in dance, fencing, music, language and philosophy, and gifts for a countess in order to try and buy himself high social position, but is only deceiving himself.

In fact, those whom he counts as friends take advantage of his gullibility to pursue their own ends, leading up to an elaborate ruse in which Monsieur Jourdain is made a royal Turkish "Mamamuchi."

In poking fun at Monsieur Jourdain's ridiculous pretentiousness, the play underscores the contrasting themes of honesty, humility and the need to be genuine.

The play is directed by Omar Sangare, a celebrated Polish actor who studied at the Theatre Academy with Oscar-winning director Andrzej Wajda. Sangare is an artist in residence at Westmont this year.

For more information, photos, or for complementary tickets to review the show, please contact Danielle Punches, at (805) 565-6559 or dpunches@westmont.edu.