The Miser & George Dandin: The Actor's Moliere - Volume 1: 001

136 Pages·2000·1.6 MB·English

by  Moliere

The Actor's
Moliere
Volume 1
THE MISER
and
GEORGE DANDIN
in new translations by Albert Bermel

CONTENTS
George Dandin, p. 2
The Miser, p. 45
Lyrics for The Miser, p. 110
Postscript, p. 125
In memory of my brother Gerald, who lived to the same age as Moliere and
loved laughter
GEORGE DANDIN
or The Confounded Husband
(George Dandin, ou Le Man confondu)
George Dandin, a wealthy farmer of peasant stock
Angelique, his wife
Monsieur de Sotenville, a country gentleman, Angelique's father
Madame de Sorenville, his wife
Clitandre, a courtier from Paris, in love with Angelique
Claudine, Angelique's maidservant
Lubin, a peasant, Clitandre's emissary
Colin, George Dandin's servant
ACT ONE
George Dandin, alone.
GEORGE DANDIN Ah! It's so mortifying to have an upper-class wife. My
marriage is a powerful lesson to any peasant who wants to rise above his rank
by tying himself, as I've done, to the family of a gentleman. Gentility, as such,
is fine, desirable, something you admire, no question about that. But it has too
many drawbacks. Stay well out of it! I've learned plenty and it cost me dear. I
know what these gentry are after when they recruit the rest of us into their
families. They're not interested in us as people. They want to marry our
money. I'd have done a lot better, being reasonably well off, to marry into
decent, ordinary country folk than to take a wife who thinks she's too good for
me, and doesn't like having my name, and acts as if my money isn't enough to
pay for the privilege of being her husband. George Dandin, George Dandin,
you did the most stupid thing in the world. I've come to hate my house. Every
time I enter it I walk into trouble. (He notices Lubin coming out of his house -
aside) A funny-looking character ... What the devil's he been up to in my
house?
LUBIN (Aside) There's a man staring at me.
GEORGE DANDIN (Aside) He doesn't know who I am.
LUBIN (Aside) He knows something's going on.
GEORGE DANDIN (Aside) So! He can hardly bring himself to bow.
LUBIN (Aside) I'm afraid hell tell someone he saw me come out of there.
GEORGE DANDIN Good morning.
LUBIN And to you.
GEORGE DANDIN You're not from these parts, are you?
LUBIN No, I'm here to see the celebrations tomorrow.
GEORGE DANDIN Excuse me, didn't you just come out of that house?
LUBIN Shush!
GEORGE DANDIN What?
LUBIN Keep it quiet!
GEORGE DANDIN How come?
LUBIN Don't ever say you saw me here.
GEORGE DANDIN Why not?
LUBIN Because.
GEORGE DANDIN No, but why not?
LUBIN Shush now. Someone might be listening.
GEORGE DANDIN Not a soul.
LUBIN I just spoke to the lady of the house - a message from a certain
gentleman who's sweet on her. Nobody must know about it, you follow?
GEORGE DANDIN So far.
LUBIN That's why not. I was told to take care nobody sees me, so I'm asking
you not to say a word.
GEORGE DANDIN I don't need to.
LUBIN I'm going to keep it secret, like I was told to.
GEORGE DANDIN That makes sense.
LUBIN They say the husband's jealous. He doesn't want anybody making love
to his wife. He'd kick up a hell of a fuss if he heard about it. Get me?
GEORGE DANDIN Only too well.

LUBIN He mustn't know a thing.
GEORGE DANDIN Why should he?
LUBIN We'd like to put one over on him, but quietly. You follow?
GEORGE DANDIN All the way.
LUBIN If you say you saw me coming out of his house you'll wreck the whole
plan, get it?
GEORGE DANDIN You bet. Ah, what's his name, the one who sent you?
LUBIN He's our local, you know, big man. Monsieur le Vicomte of something
... Damn me, I can never remember how the hell they say that name. Monsieur