Moliere’s “Tartuffe”

Vivian Reed was a lovely interview. She is one of the stars of this stage production of “Tartuffe.

Here’s the lede:

Broadway actor/singer Vivian Reed often chooses projects based on the part she’ll play, both the roles that suit her personality and those that stretch her as an actress. In Moliere’s “Tartuffe” – at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey May 16 – June 3 – Reed plays Madame Pernelle, the judgmental grand dame who is easily manipulated by the title con man.

“Ooh, I like her. She tells it like it is and doesn’t hold back, which is kinda my personality,” Reed said in an interview with NJ Advance Media. “I love character work.”

“Tartuffe” is the Shakespeare company’s first show of 2018 . Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte said this season — the company’s 56th — is devoted to comedy and comic relief. Also scheduled are Shakespeare’s “Titus Andronicus” and “The Winter’s Tale;” Sam Shepherd’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Buried Child;” and Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit.” Monte said some of the comedies this season “are pure delightful froth and others are deeper, more serious comedies; Moliere’s “Tartuffe” is a combination of both.”