Matthew Broderick & David Cross to co-star off-Broadway in new TARTUFFE written by Lucas Hnath

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 6/16/25 at 1:06pm

Sarah Benson directing with Francis Jue, Bianca Del Rio, Amber Gray & more co-starring; performances beginning at New York Theatre Workshop in late fall

[raddersons]

Posted: 6/16/25 at 1:13pm

This cast is overflowing with talent but after seeing him be immensely bland in some plays as of late I don’t think I need to see Matthew Broderick again. 

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 6/16/25 at 1:22pm

A very exciting casting announcement completely leveled by Broderick’s involvement. The man is a lead balloon.

Anyway… Bianca del Rio! Freshly-minted Tony-winner Francis Jue!

[JSquared2]

Posted: 6/16/25 at 1:23pm

raddersons said: "This cast is overflowing with talentbut after seeing him be immensely blandin some plays as of late I don’t think I need to see Matthew Broderick again."

 

Well I'm sure they'll do just fine without your support -- but thanks for chiming in.

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 6/16/25 at 1:58pm

Lucas Hnath! 

[raddersons]

Posted: 6/16/25 at 2:35pm

JSquared2 said: "raddersons said: "This cast is overflowing with talentbut after seeing him be immensely blandin some plays as of late I don’t think I need to see Matthew Broderick again."



Well I'm sure they'll do just fine without your support -- but thanks for chiming in."

You’re right, we shouldn't be discussing theatre on a theatre message board. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

Updated On: 6/16/25 at 02:35 PM

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 6/16/25 at 2:37pm

that cast is stacked and I have to wonder if a transfer is in the cards

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 6/16/25 at 2:37pm

I wish they had done the original Moliere in the still-vital Wilbur translation and I think Broderick would be a better Orgon than Tartuffe.  However, his work off-Broadway has bested his recent work on Broadway by several yards so...this could be good!

[Dolly80]

Posted: 6/16/25 at 2:50pm

Broderick will suck every bit of energy out of this, as he does everything he’s in. Pass.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/16/25 at 3:07pm

I've never seen Broderick be anything but a vacuum of charisma onstage. The rest of the cast is incredible and hopefully the production can counterbalance him. 

[whatever2]

Posted: 6/16/25 at 3:37pm

seriously ... dude has the range on an airport drop-off zone announcement.

they should have made *him* Orgon.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/16/25 at 3:46pm

Cross seems like much better casting for Tartuffe, honestly. 

[whatever2]

Posted: 6/16/25 at 3:51pm

then it's settled! :)

[oldfriends]

Posted: 12/3/25 at 4:14pm

Has anyone seen this yet? Have tix for Friday and I'm looking forward.

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 12/3/25 at 4:15pm

Read super mixed reviews over on reddit

[Ptero2]

Posted: 12/3/25 at 4:28pm

I saw the second preview of this and thought it was a fun time. David Cross was notably having a tough time with his lines and had to call for one, but I thought the entire cast was phenomenal outside of that and the audience seemed to be eating it up. Ikechukwu Ufomadu and Amber Gray were my favorites (but I am an unapologetically biased Amber Gray fan).

This WAS one of the all-$29 early previews though, hopefully David has his lines down now that he's performing for people who paid $100 more than that.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 12/3/25 at 5:20pm

We saw the first preview (day after Thanksgiving).  Cross, Broderick & Kron were having line issues and"going back" to restart sections.  Broderick & especially Cross made their forgetfulness funny - and, generally speaking, the audience was with them.

We generally enjoyed the evening. It was clear the cast needed to grow into their comedic timing - and the director needed a heavier hand to make it work, with the cast. It all felt underrehearsed.  Davis (going for a comedia del'arte melodrama look, Gray & Ufamadu (deadpan) were mostly in good shape already.  The cast will find their way with time.  The adaptation is pretty loyal to Moliere - with modern cursing but, of course, rhyming .

This was already leagues better than the college-like poorly directed/staged version on the upper east side - as were the performances (albeit decent performances from Iman and deShields).

That said, they need to sharpen the direction, timing and cut the dumb "choreography"? between scenes (a strange directorial choice).  Raja Kelly, once again, confounds us with uninteresting choreography and does not get the humor assignment he was tasked.  Never sure why he gets these jobs.  But cut it.

There is time for the cast and director to work this timing into a solid Tartuffe.  It was a fun enough first preview with potential.

Updated On: 12/3/25 at 05:20 PM