Sandra Oh stars in a modern-day, gender-reversed adaptation of Molière’s 1666 comedy, presented at London’s National Theatre. In the reworked story, the character based on Molière’s “misanthrope” is recast as Alice, a bestselling writer portrayed by Oh, and the premise is updated with an Americanised setting. The plot centers on an aspiring novelist who seeks literary guidance from Alice; Alice advises that writing should be “seductive,” framing the production’s focus on style, ambition, and how people present themselves.
Multiple reviews describe the production as a high-wire attempt to remake a classic into something contemporary. The Guardian highlights that the adaptation engages with debates about how people might live differently, while also blending satire and drama. The Independent likewise notes that Oh plays an acerbic novelist in a gender-swapped version, though it expresses a more critical view of how the production’s promise is realized.
Together, the accounts emphasize that the adaptation transforms Molière through contemporary writing and performance, while receiving mixed assessments of how effectively its modern satire and dramatic elements come together.
