INTERVIEW: This 17th-century play is being performed in a 17th-century library
Photo: Tartuffe stars Chris Hahn and Alexandra Socha. Photo courtesy of Joan Marcus / Provided by BBB with permission.
NEW YORK — The specialness of the new Tartuffe revival at the House of the Redeemer is felt almost immediately, before any words of Molière’s classic work are uttered. Audience members, many of them dressed for the occasion, are whisked to the second floor of this Upper East Side complex to a 17th-century library that was first constructed in Italy and later transported to these tony surroundings in Manhattan. It’s only appropriate that Tartuffe, a 17th-century comedy about religious hypocrisy, is taking place in a library from the same time period.
Chris Hahn plays the pivotal character of Orgon in the new production, which is translated by Ranjit Bolt and directed by Keaton Wooden. André De Shields, before returning to Broadway this spring in Cats: The Jellicle Ball, plays the title character.
“It’s been really spectacular to be part of,” Hahn said in a recent phone interview. “I met the director through the audition process, but on another show.”
That other show was called Goldberg’s Kaddish, which was part of the New York Theatre Festival in summer 2023. Wooden had recently relocated from Chicago to New York City, and the director was looking for someone to take on a difficult role.
“I was really excited to participate and audition,” the actor said. “I’m Jewish, and it was a really interesting story that took place in the ‘60s, semi-fictionalized we’re told, about a gentleman from the U.S. who goes over and essentially assassinates a former Nazi who was at that point a mayor of a town. And when he’s in jail, the American emissary comes and says, ‘This is going to be a long process. You can be in jail for a while.’ He goes, ‘Actually, I pretty much expect to be only in jail for like two days or two-and-a-half days because this gentleman who I killed was responsible for the death of 6,000-7,000 people and served two years, so by that math we should be squared up pretty quickly.’ So it was a really interesting story about the process of justice.”
Hahn said his working relationship with Wooden on that production was a positive one. The actor absolutely loved how they collaborated together, and they remained friendly after the final performance of Goldberg’s Kaddish. Then came a reading of Tartuffe in March 2024 in a brownstone salon on the Upper West Side.
“He said, ‘Would you mind being a part of this reading and reading for Orgon? I think it’s a great role for you,’” Hahn remembers the conversation going. “I thought that was pretty thrilling, and I really appreciated the invitation.”
At the time, there was a question whether Tartuffe would still be relevant in these tumultuous times. That initial reading took place during the United States presidential election, and the world continues to struggle with many of the societal and personal issues brought up in this classic work of comedy.
“Keaton always had an interest in this play since 2016 and how it was perfect for the moment,” Hahn said. “And unfortunately it is still relevant. … So he continued to press forward.”
More and more of the cast members, including De Shields, began to join the production, and then the run of shows at House of the Redeemer was announced. That’s where Hahn and his peers have been stationed for the past couple of months, and they will continue to bring life to this library location through Sunday, Nov. 23.
“This space was found after other considerations didn’t work out, and so I think as an actor knowing that little bit of fact, it’s kind of kismet that we’re doing a 17th-century play in a 17th-century library,” he said. “How many times does an actor get surrounded by their set, literally? … We’re working in and around a full 17th-century library. Oftentimes I’m doing the work, and I’m present with my peers. And I’m looking at the books. I’m legitimately in my own library. It’s pretty special.”
Not only is the action of this Tartuffe taking place in a library, but the actors also mingle amongst the audience members. There’s a real immersive quality to the proceedings, as if Tartuffe has come over for dinner, with Orgon hosting everyone and their +1.
“The minute you walk onto a stage for the first time, and there’s an audience, you are met with so much of their energy and then the energy of your peers on stage,” Hahn said. “They’re there to hear a story. It aligns with Keaton’s expectations that we purposely roam the room at the beginning of the play out of character as ourselves as if to say, ‘Welcome to our space. Welcome to our storytelling space. We’re actors, and we’re going to invite you into this world. We look forward to how you respond and what conversations we can have afterward.’ So we break that fourth wall immediately, which sets the stage for us as an ensemble to be present with them and to interact with them without any hesitation.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Tartuffe, starring André De Shields and featuring Chris Hahn, continues through Sunday, Nov. 23, at the House of the Redeemer in New York City. Click here for more information and tickets.
