Piip ja Tuut stages classic French farce

Piip ja Tuut Theatre will premiere “The Farce of Master Pathelin,” a 15th-century French comedy, on August 7, ERR reported. The production is directed by Mathias Ausmeel.

The situational and character comedy is filled with unexpected twists as characters deceive, trick and outwit one another. The play explores how, nearly 600 years later, fraudsters continue to operate in society using methods that have changed little.

The production incorporates live music, dance and elements of commedia dell’arte, a form of theatre that spread across Europe in the early modern period. Both farce and commedia dell’arte developed from ancient comedy.

“The Farce of Master Pathelin” was highly popular in its time and was performed with great success across Southern Europe. That period also saw a powerful fortress completed on Toompea’s limestone cliff, while busy activity took place at the location where Piip ja Tuut Theatre now stands.

The cast includes Oliver Valk, Leonhard Sass Taalmaa, Emma Tross, Paul Abiline, Märten Männiste and Sundari Lüllmann. Jaanus Laagriküll is the set designer, Lüllmann is the composer and musical director, Terje Kagovere of VAT Theatre is responsible for lighting design, and Mari Ann Valkna is the choreographer.

Further performances are scheduled for August 9, 10, 11, 14 and 16.