Pierre Corneille
The Liar
A liar must have a faultless memory! Otherwise he forgets to whom he told which lie…
The comedic archetype of a liar can often be found in stories about the return of a prodigal son into his father’s house. Simirarly, Corneille’s brilliant comedy The Liar depicts a young man coming back to Paris from a provincial university: how else would he be able to win attention of Parisian ladies than by telling tales of his war exploits, his fortune and erudition? Regrettably, his egocentrism shortly makes him entangled in his own intrigues, leading him to dire straits. No matter how capable a liar he appears to be, he ends up confusing the name of a girl he is seducing! In his adaptation of the ‘liar’ motif, Pierre Corneille (1606–1684), a prominent representative of French classicism, picks up the threads of multiple dramatical works such as Don Juan, The Inspector General, and The Suspicious Truth by Alarcón. The Czech translation of the comedy comes from Vladimír Mikeš, whose lively translation of the play Amphytrion has been acclaimed by both the audience and critics. Following up on its successful staging, by Aminata Keita, at the Mahen Theatre, the same director will also take the direction of The Liar.
Premiere: at Mahen Theatre on June 23rd, 2023
