Student actors will bring a contemporary twist to Molière's romantic-farce, “The Miser,” at the Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids Campus Performing Arts Center, April 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. Alumni night with a post-show discussion is April 18; the interpretive performance is April 23.

“It's wonderful to be working with a group of young artists,” says Theatre faculty member and the play’s director, Blayn Lemke. “The play is rather physical and the cast is really throwing themselves into its comic style.”

“The Miser” title character, Harpagon, is father to Cléante and Élise, who wants to be the suitor to Mariane. Yet money is all Harpagon thinks about. He frets about it day and night. He trusts no one with his money and there is nothing that can make him share even a tiny bit of his wealth. Harpagon embodies greed, and the play pulls no punches in making ample points and puns about how distorted his views are due to this obsession.

Audiences enjoy the traditional elements of comedy–wit, slapstick, spectacle and satire–as well as the discriminating insight into human character. The play is also well-known for certain theatrical conventions, such as characters pausing to speak directly to the audience.

“Even though the play is based on a story more than 2,000 years old, the subject still resonates today,” adds Lemke. “In the play, the miser says to the audience, ‘I keep large sums of money in my house. Where else should I put it? In the bank? Hah! Suppose those starched collared crooks overextend their loans, who would bail them out, the government? Dream on!’ When I read this I think it's as if Molière was watching today’s evening news.”

Appropriate for all ages, tickets for “The Miser” are $8 for the general public and are available at the college’s bookstore during regular business hours or at the Performing Arts Center box office 30 minutes before each performance.

For more information, call 763-433-1250.