Das Urbild des Tartüffe

Urbild des Tartüffe, Das, a five-act comedy (Lustspiel) by K. Gutzkow, first performed in December 1845 at Oldenburg. Its subject is the web of intrigue which in 1667 almost succeeded in preventing the production of Molière's Tartuffe. Tartuffe is identified with President La Roquette, who, by appealing to the self-interest of a number of parties, persuades the chief of police to reverse his decision to permit the performance of the play. An appeal to King Louis XIV seems likely to fail because Molière proposes to marry Armande, an actress in whom the King is interested. But Armande manœuvres His Majesty into giving consent, the play is performed, and Roquette unmasked.