New England Theater

Review by Joe Siegel

The Players’ “Carnivale Moliere” pays tribute to the comedies of legendary French playwright Moliere.

The show consists of three one-act plays translated into English by Albert Bermel.

A man resents his wife’s attention for other men in “The Jealous Husband.”

A buffoon is hired to impersonate a physician in “The Flying Doctor.”

A series of misunderstandings result in mayhem in “The Imaginary Cuckold.”

The humor and characterizations are broad and wildly over the top. Moliere enjoyed poking fun at the lunacy of human beings, especially their petty jealousy, vanity, and fruitless quests for revenge. Many of the performers wear a variety of masks, adding to the overall atmosphere of madness.

How do you quantify the success of a show like this? The basic criteria is whether or not you find this type of humor amusing. I do and I was won over by the sheer exuberance of these performers.

Ryan Leverone (“Into the Woods”) earns many laughs as a pompous and egomaniacal intellectual known as “The Scholar” in “The Jealous Husband.” The Scholar mesmerizes everyone with non-stop verbal barrages in a demonstration of his “brilliance.”

Tyler John (“You’re On The Moors Now”) is absolutely delightful as Sganarelle – “The Flying Doctor.” He misleads the elderly Gorgibus (Chip Lamb) into believing he as a twin brother, Narcissus. This leads to a frantic series of leaps into and out of a house to convince Gorgibus he is two people.

John pretends to be fighting himself by using a curtain in the window and switching sides. The whole routine is a comic masterpiece.

Ian Hudgins is outrageously manic as LaVallee, the “jealous husband” and as Sganarelle in “The Imaginary Cuckold.” Hudgins succeeds at satirizing the jealous alpha male in both stories. His physicality and vocal intonation were a joy to behold.

Lauren Kieler is fiery and strong-willed as Angelique, a woman scorned in “The Jealous Husband.” Kieler milks the pathos and melodrama of the situation for all it’s worth.

Vanessa Sciolto also shines as the lovelorn Lucile in “The Flying Doctor” and as Celie, the instigator of the chaos in “The Imaginary Cuckold.”

The cast also features W. Grant Willis, Adrien Kemper, Yates Akinrolabu, Natalie Joy Balen, Marcia Layden, and Nancy Winokoor.

Director Roger Lemelin has crafted a sharply paced show with a perfect mix of surrealism and absurdity.

“Carnivale Moliere” is a joyful escape from the horrors of the real world and a terrific way to close out 2025.

Carnivale Moliere runs through December 14. The Players at Barker Playhouse. 400 Benefit St., Providence, RI. Runtime is 1 hour, 45 minutes with intermission. For tickets, call 401-273-0590 or visit playersri.org.

Tyler John and the cast of Carnivale Moliere. Photos courtesy of Samantha Hudgins.

Marcia Layden and Chip Lamb.

Ryan Leverone and Ian Hudgins.