Scandal, religion, sexuality and the French. Sound like a romance novel? No, it’s Moli?re’s Tartuffe, the newest production from Saint Louis University Theatre. The play is the latest installment in Saint Louis University Theatre’s Season of Classics-but don’t equate “classic” with dry. This play is still juicy, 300 years after it was written.

Moli?re wrote Tartuffe for King Louis XIV of France in 1664. It created wild controversy during its debut because of its portrayal of hypocrisy in the Church. The humor and truth in the play remain true to modern times, as does the intrigue for corruption within the Church.

This translation of the play is by Richard Wilbur and successfully preserves the gaiety of the piece with its rhyming couplets. This may sound annoying, but it is Shakespeare-style rhyming, not Seuss. The cast, for the most part, does a beautiful job tackling the challenge of delivering these lines with insightful inflection and timing. The audience is sure to be delighted by the wit of the language, not distracted by it.

Other aspects of Tartuffe that will hold audiences’ attention are the elaborate costumes and impressive set. The patterns on the women’s skirts is good for at least 10 minutes of scrutiny, and the fluffy wigs on the men are worth a giggle.

Tartuffe’s plot and the cast’s acting abilities, however, will be what enthrall most audiences. This farcical drama delivers humor and complications far superior to most TV sitcoms (especially during a scene in the second act involving a proposition, a table, and a hidden husband). Also, this classic offers what TV usually lacks: a challenge for your brain.

So whether you want to ponder spirituality,revel in skull duggery or relish word play, Moli?re is your cup of.Tartuffe.