The Moliere Collection Audiobook (Free)

Six hilarious satires through the ingenious Molière, France’s primary get good at of comedies:

The Bungler: In 17th Century Sicily, a smart valet named Mascarille tries to help his boss Lélie win the girl of his dreams…only to find that Lélie is a monumental dunce who ruins every one of his intricate schemes. Undaunted, Mascarille invents steadily wilder plots, and then see his best-laid plans go extremely awry. Performed by: Richard Easton, Adam Godley, Alan Mandell, Christopher Neame, Paula Jane about The Moliere Collection Newman, Darren Richardson, John Sloan, Norman Snow and Kate Steele.

The Imaginary Cuckold: Brian Bedford stars as the enraged spouse who imagines his wife is unfaithful, but becomes reluctant to defend his honor within this grand farce of hysterical coincidences, frenzied confusion and mistaken identities – the most widely performed Molière play in his life time. Performed by: Brian Bedford, Dakin Matthews, Christopher Neame, Moira Quirk, Darren Richardson, Carolyn Seymour, Alan Shearman and Joanne Whalley.

THE INSTITUTION for Husbands: Sganarelle, a tyrannical old buffoon of the husband-to-be, seeks to isolate his young ward, while unwittingly carrying her messages of devotion to her lover. In the meantime, his wise sibling offers his ward kindness and liberty, and is rewarded with her hand in marriage. Performed by: Brian Bedford, Emily Bergl, Dakin Matthews, Juliet Mills, Christopher Neame, Lloyd Owen, Alan Shearman, Rhashan Rock and Olivia Williams.

THE INSTITUTION for Wives: In this biting comedy of errors, the hapless Arnolphe is undone by his own double dealing and double standards. This play is considered by many to be Molière’s masterpiece, and Wilbur’s refined verse translation illuminates the great master of comedy at his wittiest. Performed by: William Brown, Wellesley Chapman, Joe Damour, Kevin Fox, Cheryl Graeff, Judy Greer, Dev Kennedy, Bradley Mott and Larry

Yando.

Tartuffe: Initially prohibited in by Ruler Louis XIV, Molière’s most famous satire exposes hypocrisy in the Catholic Cathedral. A pious fraud manipulates the patriarch of a wealthy family into quitting his lot of money, and it’s up to his family to expose the truth before they end up in the poor home. Performed by: Brian Bedford, JB Blanc, Daniel Blinkoff, Gia

Carides, Jane Carr, John de Lancie, Martin Jarvis, Alex Kingston, Matthew Rhys and Sarah Zimmerman.

The Misanthrope: Razor-sharp wit inflames a competitive game of success in the salons of 17th century France. In this world of “finest looks,” one guy’s blunt integrity shatters his culture’s delicate web of manners in what’s often regarded as Molière’s Hamlet. Performed by: Harry Althaus, Amy Farrington, Bradford Farwell, Sean Fortunato, David Frutkoff, Kevin Gudahl, Ora Jones, Chad Kelderman, John Reeger, Hollis Resnik, and Larry Yando.