Hilarious! Charming! Unexpected! Engaging! Superbly performed! Wonderfully directed! Written with Wit!
That's how people described the preview performance of Moliere's The Prodigious Snob Wednesay afternoon. The show officially opens tonight in Seto Hall and runs through Saturday night with performances at 7 p.m. Admission is free. 
French playwright and actor Moliere is considered one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature. His farce Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme was translated by Miles Malleson as The Prodigious Snob.
The story centers around a nouveau riche bourgeois gentleman, Monsieur Jourdain (played by a comedic Sam Kor '09), who makes a fool of himself by trying to impress others with his importance and wealth. But he is finally made the butt of a practical joke, takes part unwittingly in the marriage of his daughter to the man of her choice, and is properly initiated into nobility by a sham ceremony that only emphasizes the servility of those that pretend to greatness. 
Costumes reflective of 16th century France include white wigs with ringlets, ornate gowns, stockings and boots. The set transforms the stage into a nobleman's sitting room. And all students have been perfectly cast.
Director Rob Duval has created another master piece in which students immerse themselves into their roles and the flow of the show is perfectly timed.
Admission is free, though donations are being accepted in support of the performing arts department trip to New York City next month. For information, call 943-2244.
To see more photos, go to www.iolani-events.org.
The following review was provided by history teacher Jeff Hackler: "The play is a comedic farce which takes place in 16th century France. Our hero, Monsieur Jourdain, played brilliantly by Sam Kor '09, is a wealthy middle class snob who wants to become an aristocrat and be the master of his home. The play opens with his trying to learn to sing, dance and fence. The three instructors, Sami Tasaki '09, Satsu Holmes '10 and Claire Mosteller '10,
do a wonderful job of making us realize that our hero is a nitwit who will never reach his goals and that only funny moments can emerge from his attempts. A philosopher, Kevin Duong '09, helps our hero make the vowel sounds. Listen for the donkey sounds. The tailor, Hanul Seo '10, induces our hero to wear a ridiculously hideous outfit and to pay him an outrageous fee. Our hero's wife, Shantha McKinlay '09, endures our hero's inadequacies with charm. Our hapless hero is next conned out of more money by Matt Hirokane, '09 and convinced that The Marchionesse Dorimene,
Jackie Mosteller '10, 
could become his mistress.
The funniest foursome, Blaire Tolentino, '09, Jon Lee '10, Chaz Silva '09, and Amelia Linsky, '09 brings Act 1 to a rousing end. Act 2 continues all the various love interests. Everything gets resolved during the climax leaving our hero bewildered and us, the audience, smiling and feeling happy."
Do not miss this show!!BRAVO!
