The School for Lies at Arkansas Repertory Theatre

David Ives; dir: Giovanna Sardelli.

Authors

• David Ives
• Molière

THE SCHOOL FOR LIES was inspired by Moliere's THE MISANTHROPE.

It's 1666 and the brightest, wittiest salon in Paris is that of Celimene, a beautiful young widow so known for her satiric tongue that she's being sued for it. Surrounded by a bevy of ridiculous, yet hopeful, suitors, Celimene has managed to evade love since her beloved husband died-until today, when the mysterious Frank appears. Armed with ruthless wit and acidic misanthropy, Frank turns Celimene's world upside-down, taking on her suitors, matching her barb for barb, and teaching her how to live again.

With its modern language couched in cunning verse, THE SCHOOL FOR LIES is French Farce at its finest , combining a heady mix of mistaken identity, misguided romance, deception and even drag in a slyly crafted confection.