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Overview
Synopsis
The Miser centers around the age-old conflict of love and money. The miser of the title is the elderly Harpagon, who is a wealthy man but worries that he never has enough money. His obsession with money spells disaster for all those around him, including his two children, Elise and Cléante. Elise is passionately in love with the penniless Valère, but her father has arranged for her to marry a wealthy old man, Anselme. Meanwhile Cléante loves the girl next door, the young, impoverished Marianne. In a further twist, Harpagon has set his sights on marrying Marianne himself! With the help of some wily servants, Elise and Cléante plot against their frugal father. Thankfully, Valère and Marianne are revealed to be Anselme’s long-lost children, and they go on to marry their true loves…but only after the miserly Harpagon makes Anselme pay for the weddings!
Show Information
- Book
- Moliere
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 5
- First Produced
- 1668
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Period, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- Harpagon's House, Paris, Seventeenth Century
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Young Adult, Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher