"The status of Molière in France is just like Shakespeare in England," Vincent Colin (pictured below) told the Global Times. As a French theater director, Colin admires the 17th century dramatist, who is famed for his humor.

However, in Colin's opinion, the greatness of Molière is not that he is a master of comedy, but more precisely that he is a master of creating plays with elements of humor.

"For me, it is unacceptable for a play to be either without any humor or only with humor," Colin said. "Molière is obviously neither of these. His plays are humorous, but much more than that."

This year, which marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France, Colin has been invited to Shanghai to direct a Chinese production of Molière's The School for Wives (L'école des femmes), using Chinese theater actors from the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center (SDAC). The production will premiere at the SDAC on September 16.

A poster for the Chinese production of Molière's The School for Wives Photos: Courtesy of Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center

While Colin has staged numerous international theater productions in places including Argentina, Vietnam, South Korea and Namibia, this is his first time working with Chinese actors. "As far as I know, it will also be the first time Molière's The School for Wives to be staged in China," Colin said.

The School for Wives focuses on the story of Arnolphe, a 42-year-old wealthy property owner in 17th century France who is so obsessed with grooming a young girl, Agnès, to be his innocent, obedient and dutiful wife that he sends her to a nunnery at the age of 4.

However, things don't go according to Arnolphe's expectations after he brings Agnès back for marriage when she is aged 17, as Agnès escapes his clutches and falls in love with a young man called Horace.

Colin has chosen to set his production in the 1960s France, partly due to that being when France and China established diplomatic relations, but also because of his love for the period. "I love that era because of its free atmosphere of culture and art, and it was also a thriving time of cinema," he said. 

The production will see the Chinese actors dress up as the 1960s French film stars.

Zhou Yemang (pictured below), who plays Arnolphe, will dress up like comic actor Jacques Tati (1907-82), star of Play Time (1967). Gong Xiao (pictured below), who plays Agnès, will dress up like Catherine Deneuve in musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964).

Gong Xiao

Zhou Yemang

"Such appearances with a strong visual contrast can produce a comic effect among the Chinese audience even if they are not familiar with those old French films," Colin said. 

He added that the stage will be designed to look like an old film studio, including a long microphone and several large, movable wooden boards.

"Of course, the whole story remains the same without any change," Colin said. He believes Molière has a universal appeal because "the issues that the story talks about still exist in today's society."

In Colin's opinion, Molière not only explored the relationship between men and women, but also looked at generational conflict, such as that between Agnès and her father, Enrique, whose conservative way of thinking leads him to regard his daughter's marriage as a task.

Gong Baorong, a French literature researcher who served as script translator for the production, told the Global Times that the play also satirizes church officials. He said that ridicule of authority figures was a running theme through Molière's work to such a degree that many priests refused to attend his funeral.

The play also has parallels to Molière's life. In 1662, the year the play was penned, Molière married 17-year-old actress Armande Béjart. This led many critics to see a connection between the stage relationship of Arnolphe and Agnès, and Molière's relationship with his young wife. Though Colin himself disagrees. "Of course, I believe that Molière is in no way the same as Arnolphe," Colin said.

Date: September 16 to 28, 7:30 pm (except Mondays)

Venue: Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center

上海话剧艺术中心

Address: 288 Anfu Road

安福路288号

Tickets: 150 yuan ($24.30) to 380 yuan

Call 6473-0123 for details