Misery guts - Liz Lochhead

Two plays from Molire, by 'Scotland's greatest living dramatist' (Scotland on Sunday).

Miseryguts is a Scots version of Molire's Le Misanthrope, a bitter comedy about a worldly sophisticate who cannot help telling uncomfortable truths about his fellow men – and women, with one of whom, despite himself, he is deeply and painfully in love. Lochhead transmutes the characters into media rats in present-day Scotland, injecting the vigour of her own comedies – with an added layer of biting satire.

Tartuffe is a rollicking Scots version of Molire's play of the same name. Lochhead brings out Molire's mix of political satire and black comedy as the religious hypocrite, Tartuffe, worms his way into Orgon's household.