The Learned Ladies Picture Gallery

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Pre-Production Photos

Korda's infrequently-photographed Properties Master Raven Ridley and actor Adam Giles work on bringing Daniel Nolin's set into reality. The irrepressable maid servant Martine (and her irrepressable cleavage). Costume designed by Kelly Ridley and filled out by Katie MacTavish. Away from the stage, one of Kelly Ridley's richly detailed costume pieces lies near a script and a stack of postcards and posters, designed by Daniel Nolin. Is something ado between the Master and the Maid? Chrysale (James Neely) and Martine (Katie MacTavish) take a moment during a break in rehearsal.
Aged poet Vadius readies himself to share one of his marvellous ballades, while Armande waits eagerly. Mitch Snaden is the dignified notary who arrives to finalize Henriette's marriage contract. The worried couple ... and the happy couple. You didn't think it would end badly, did you?

Production Photos

A bust of Plato sits at the centre of the darkened drawing room where The Learned Ladies takes place. Set design and painting by Daniel Nolin. Household servant Lepine steals a quiet moment during the day. He also stole that apple, but the book is just borrowed. A moment later, Lepine pays the price for his leisure at the philosophical hands of the shrewish Armande. Armande accepts the help of maidservant Martine to get into her elaborate dress, while Henriette sits and listens wearily to her sister.
Armande lectures her former suitor, Clitandre, and her sister Henriette, the new object of his affection, regarding the impossibility of their marriage hopes. Chrysale's delusional sister Belise saves Clitandre the task of describing his feelings for her, and kindly describes them for him. Martine's poor grammar has offended Philaminte for the last time. Poor Chrysale is awfully fond of the girl's cooking, but can't prevent her being sacked. Setting a tone that will become quite familiar, Philaminte unleashes a scathing verbal barrage upon her hapless husband, Chrysale.
Following upon Philaminte's tirade, Ariste attempts to convince his brother to try an approach that involves a little less cringing and cowering. Chrysale takes his brother's advice and details to his wife several issues of pique in the household. Philaminte's expression neatly foreshadows the outcome. Kind encouragements having failed, Ariste goes on the offensive as Chrysale protests weakly (something at which he's quite accomplished). Striking a dramatic pose, Trissotin begins an impassioned reading of 'Sonnet To The Princess Uranie, Regarding Her Fever'.
Philaminte listens in rapt attention as Trissotin launches into his (very slight) epigram, 'Concerning A Vermillion Coach, Given To A Lady Of His Acquaintance'. Trissotin, on the other hand, prefers to give his rapt attention to another subject. Henriette is ... hesitant. Vadius sneers contemptuously at the suggestion that he might read aloud some of his poems; it's a folly he says he has never embraced. He is, in fact, lying. Julien returns in his master Vadius' wake, carrying an armload of books which have been petulantly marked to illustrate, line by line, Trissotin's long history of plagiarism...
... and meets with the predictable response from Philaminte, who will not hear a word spoken against the 'worthy man' she desires for a son-in-law. Armande extols the virtues of a pure love based solely on the bonds of the intellect. Clitandre, having been scorned once already, isn't buying. Chrysale pontificates about the strength of his backbone; his daughter Henriette is too thrilled that he finally seems to have grown one to disagree. Chrysale and Philaminte bicker over which man shall have their daughter's hand, while the notary waits patiently for instructions.
Armande, Philaminte and Trissotin react with genuine horror at the news of a staggering financial loss. Trissotin shortly suffers a similar loss of matrimonial ambition. Moments later, Chrysale staggers back into a chair at the news his brother Ariste has brought: his money managers have gone into bankruptcy, taking all the family's wealth with them. The bad news which I brought was all untrue. Ariste reveals his clever stratagem designed to remove Trissotin, and calls for wedding bells for Henriette and Clitandre. The happy, sensible couple, together at last.
Philaminte, Armande and Belise give the play its name: they are The Learned Ladies. The full cast of the March 2005 production of Molière's The Learned Ladies, brought to you by Korda Productions!

Promotional Materials

That pretty much says it all.... Come enjoy The Learned Ladies!

A Learning Moment

The Learned Ladies is full of grace, wit, intelligence and refined behaviour. And lots of irony and satire, as well. Enrich your day and enhance your vocabulary by meditating on this promotional recording provided by the learned ladies and gentlemen at Windsor's AM800 CKLW.

CKLW Promo Spot (478 KB, MP3 format)