Tartuffe Brings Comedy Under the Stars to Reynolds Tavern
Join us in the charming outdoor courtyard at Reynolds Tavern for Moliere's timeless comedy Tartuffe, directed by Sally Boyett. This hilarious satire of hypocrisy, greed, and blind faith brings mistaken identities and clever schemes to life under the stars, promising laughter and delight for audiences of all ages. Presented by Classic Theatre of Maryland as part of its beloved annual "Comedy in the Courtyard" series, the production transforms the centuries-old Annapolis landmark into a gorgeous, intimate backdrop for one of the theatre's most enduring satires.
First staged in 1664, Tartuffe follows Orgon, a respected and well-to-do gentleman who welcomes into his home a seemingly pious and humble houseguest named Tartuffe. Convinced he has found the very picture of virtue, Orgon begins to prize Tartuffe's opinions above those of his own wife, children, and relatives-none of whom are fooled for a moment. As Orgon's blind devotion deepens, the cunning Tartuffe tightens his grip on the household, and the family must scheme to expose him before he can do real damage. What unfolds is a fast and funny battle of wits, with misunderstandings, schemes, and reversals piling up toward a satisfying comic finish.
What makes this staging such a delight is its sheer inventiveness. A small, gifted ensemble plays the entire roster of characters, with actors changing costumes and slipping between roles mid-scene-sometimes more than once in a single scene. The effect is a continual source of laughter and a showcase for genuinely versatile performances. One standout sequence finds a single actor playing both sides of a heated, rapid-fire argument at once, a feat of impeccable timing that has drawn particular acclaim. The performer in the title role earns equal praise, colorfully capturing both the outward polish and the underlying sleaze of Moliere's great hypocrite, while the household's sharp-tongued maid sparkles with wit, warmth, and no shortage of sass.
Director Sally Boyett's hand is everywhere in the production's success. Her staging keeps the comedy in constant motion-actors circling one another, leaning and dodging, racing through quick changes-and her visually stunning period costumes both evoke the play's seventeenth-century world and help the audience instantly track who's who as the cast multiplies before their eyes. The production uses Richard Wilbur's celebrated translation, whose graceful rhyming couplets lend the whole evening a buoyant, lighthearted lift, with the cast playing knowingly into the occasional clever rhyme.
More than 350 years after its premiere, Tartuffe feels remarkably current. Moliere's portrait of how admiration can cloud our judgment still resonates in an age of celebrities and influencers, and his skewering of hypocrisy, gullibility, and the misuse of authority lands just as sharply today as it did in seventeenth-century Paris. That blend of timeless wit and modern relevance, set in such an enchanting open-air space, makes for a uniquely magical theatrical experience-history and charm in equal measure.
Add in the relaxed pleasures of an Annapolis summer evening, with food and drinks available at Reynolds Tavern, and Tartuffe makes for an unforgettable night out. Performances run Tuesday evenings through August 25, 2026, in the outdoor courtyard at Reynolds Tavern, 7 Church Circle, Annapolis, Maryland. The show runs approximately 90 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission. Venture to historic Annapolis this summer for an enchanting evening of classic comedy under the stars.