Great Plays

Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme

English · Drama, Satire, Humor

Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme is Molière’s comedy about Monsieur Jourdain, a wealthy man determined to acquire the manners and accomplishments of the aristocracy. His lessons in music, dance, fencing, and philosophy become a source of comic confusion, while his social ambitions complicate the lives of those around him.

Written as a comédie-ballet, the play combines spoken scenes with music and dance. Its humor comes from Jourdain’s vanity and earnest attempts to imitate a world he does not understand, as well as from the clever schemes of people who know how to take advantage of him.

The result is a lively satire of status and pretension, balancing broad comedy with sharp observations about social ambition. This radio presentation brings a classic stage comedy into an audio setting, where dialogue and performance carry the characters’ misunderstandings and comic reversals.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.