Overview
Synopsis
In Pierre Corneille’s frothy yet biting comedy of light hearts and lighter words, trouble arrives in Paris in the form of Dorante, a young law student with martial and marital ambitions. To achieve his ends, Dorante happily spins a web of outrageous lies, which, ultimately, lands him in hot water, when he falls for the beautiful and witty Clarice. Mistaking her identity for that of her quiet friend, Lucrece, Dorante unwittingly courts the wrong girl and enrages the right one -- unless it is really Lucrece for whom his heart has been yearning? With his father, Geronte, out to arrange his marriage; his friend, Alcippe, now a jealous and violence-prone rival, and the lovely ladies accusing him of bigamy, Dorante has his work cut out for him. Will he be able to talk his way out of every sticky situation? Will he confess and apologize for his many misleading statements? …Or has he been speaking some manner of truth all along? Full of delicious language and wicked banter, hearts aflame with jealousy and aflutter with infatuation, multitudes of mistaken identities, and a few basic truths about money and status, The Liar is a delightful and silly romp through 17th century Paris.
Note: The most recent and popular English translation is not strictly a translation, but a new adaptation by David Ives, who cut some characters, fleshed out some others, wrote new scenes and conversations, and generally made the show his own. While this guide follows a translation closer to Corneille’s original, the video clips included are of Ives’ adaptation,, which gives a good idea of the period detail, energy, and pacing of the story.
Show Information
- Book
- Pierre Corneille
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 5
- First Produced
- 1643
- Genres
- Comedy, Farce
- Settings
- Multiple Settings, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- 17th century, paris, france
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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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