'The Miser' comes to the Old Stone House

By Alex Rush

Molière is going modern.

The French playwright’s satirical comedy, “The Miser,” first performed in 1668, gets the 21st-century treatment Park Slope’s Piper Theatre. It’s the same story about a man’s quest for social status, though some references have, of course, been updated.

“People won’t have any trouble seeing themselves reflected in the play,” said Welker White, who wrote and directs the adaptation, which updates Molière’s sharp dialogue with references to contemporary pastimes such as surfing the Internet.

The play, which runs on the lawn of the Old Stone House starting tonight, follows Harpagon, a money-grubbing man who wants to marry his children off to rich families. Not all, of course, goes according to plan, as his children have suitors of their own in mind.

White, who has lived in Park Slope for nearly 20 years, says she was also drawn to “The Miser” because the plot allows for a lot of physical comedy. So expect her actors to be extremely animated — a technique suited for “The Miser’s” outdoor venue.

“We’ll have big emotions and big physical comedy that can be communicated across the big Old Stone House lawn,” said White.

“The Miser” at the Old Stone House [Fifth Avenue at Third Street in Park Slope, (718) 768-3195], July 7–8, 14–15, 21–22, 8:30 pm. Free. For info, visit www.theoldstonehouse.org.