Blaine DeSantis's Reviews > The Blunderer

Considered one of Moliere's best/signature plays, this is his first play in an extended format. By this I mean he has gone from short little one act plays to a full 5-act play with characters of his own invention. Very comic, as always, and here we deal with two young aristocrats who are both in love with the same gypsy/servant girl. Both of their parents want them, however, to marry the rather dowdy Hippolyta, and neither want to listen to their parents. So in order to win the hand of the lovely Celia, the aristocrat Lelio involves his valet to come up with ways in which Lelio can win the hand of Celia. Every time the valet devises a plan and puts it into play, Lelio bungles things up by interfering in a rather dimwitted manner. It is a fun play to read and I can imagine it would be great to see performed since there are many "asides" and places where physical mannerisms will enhance the enjoyment. Really liked this play, and can imagine it was a big hit in France in the 1650's!