Tartuffe by Moliere, translated from the French by Harold Dixon

Tartuffe by Moliere: a new rhymed verse translation by Harold DixonTartuffe is the story of a religious hypocrite who worms his way into a middle class household in 17th century France. It has a cast of 13 characters, 8 men, 5 women (1 man, 1 woman in non-speaking roles). It is the most popular of Moliere’s plays. This version is a modern, American English translation of the French classic. Like the original, it is entirely in rhymed couplets, but you will find that this version is fresh and accessible for modern audiences while keeping the spirit of the original.This translation has been performed at the University of Arizona and at the University of Redlands, CA, where it was enthusiastically received.After reviewing the manuscript, Shepard Sobel, artistic director of the acclaimed Pearl Theatre Company in New York City, wrote: ＂Your text is an extraordinary accomplishment. Whenever we take on Moliere and other rhymed coupleters, we struggle over the difficult choice of opting for speakability or for authenticity. Hats off to you for managing both. I have some sense of what a feat that is.＂More praise for this translation: ＂...pitch-perfect...[a] limber verse translation of the French original. For once, here is a Moliere free of Briticisms and archaic turns of phrase. True, Dixon does pepper the dialog with modern colloquialisms-’rat race, ’ walk the walk, ’ ’horny husbands, ’ usually for the sake of an arresting rhyme-but none of this ever seems out of character.＂ (Tucson, AZ Weekly)Dixon’s ＂rhymed translation is quite actable and occasionally vernacular-sharp.＂ (Los Angeles Times)Dixon’s translation ＂of the text into rhymed couplets is always smooth, often brilliant.＂ (Redlands, CA Daily Facts)Dixon’s ＂achievement is rather monumental...since the entire comedy is in rhymed couplets...Dixon’s accomplishment is to be highly commended, as the speech flowed easily, comedy was unimpaired and even a few modern idioms inserted.＂ (Loma Linda, CA Bulletin)

Harold Dixon translator Dr. Dixon is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the School of Theatre, Film, & Television at the University of Arizona, for which he was also founding artistic director of the Arizona Repertory Theatre, where he directed over 50 shows, including Tartuffe, Measure For Measure, The Merchant of Venice, The Comedy of Errors, Candide, Kiss Me Kate, Carousel, The Kentucky Cycle, Nicholas Nickelby, and the Cider House Rules. As a director, he has also worked Off Broadway (92nd St Y), at the Kennedy Center, Gloucester Stage Company, Phoenix Theatre, and Invisible Theatre, Tucson. As an actor, he has appeared Off Broadway (92nd St Y and Theatre Row) and in the National tour of Ella (as Ella Fitzgerald’s manager, Norman Granz). Regional theatres: Ella at 20 theatres, including the Guthrie, Long Wharf, Pittsburgh Public, Hartford Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse, Arena Stage, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Arizona Theatre Company. Most recently, he played the Narrator in the stage version of the beloved movie A Christmas Story at Phoenix Theatre. Other shows at: Gloucester Stage Company (Israel Horovitz’s My Old Lady and The Secret of Mme Bonnard’s Bath - world premiere), Phoenix Theatre (Six Degrees of Separation), Arizona Theatre Company (Much Ado About Nothing), Shakespeare Sedona, Arizona Repertory Theatre (King Lear), and Invisible Theatre, Tucson. Film: Born To Ride, Hungry For Change, Half Laughing (indie shorts), The Back of Beyond (narrator). Television: ＂Rescue 911,＂ ＂The Highwayman,＂ ＂Enola Gay,＂ plus commercials and industrial films. Member of Actors Equity since 1973 and Screen Actors Guild since 1979.