O.C. THEATER REVIEW : The Time Is Still Right for ‘Tartuffe’ : Yesterday’s truths hold up well in John-Frederick Jones’ production of Moliere’s satire at Irvine Valley College.

IRVINE —  What Moliere had to say in his sometimes-outrageous comedies about society in his day was considered strong stuff. Well, society doesn’t change one whit with time’s passing. The playwright would have loved today’s lawyer jokes and roared at the mess the medical establishment has made of the Hippocratic oath.

And he would have found modern parallels for the religious charlatan “Tartuffe” in his satire about the gullibility of the self-righteous conned by faux spirituality. Director John-Frederick Jones’ production at Irvine Valley College is very clear in making that point.

Jones attempts to connect the play to the moment with an intro that finds the actors photographing themselves in costume, and an actress slapping an actor making a pass, as all prepare busily for the show. It’s a good idea, and the only reason it doesn’t work is that it’s not full enough, too long and unfocused for the little it accomplishes.

Once Jones gets into the Moliere itself and his concept begins to focus, the production looks and sounds as it should. The director and cast get those in the audience to laugh at themselves while skewering their sacred cows. Jones has the tempos right, with a good period feel, and he has guided many of the performances with a sure sense of the relish with which Moliere’s own company might have cavorted through these shenanigans.

*

The rock upon which the humor depends is not the title role. It is Orgon, the middle-aged fool taken in by the wretched blackguard Tartuffe, allowing his family to be torn almost asunder, then deeding Tartuffe his estate and fortune, and finally promising his daughter Mariane in marriage.

It’s a devil of a role to make work--one must capture the humor and satire while winning the audience’s empathy--but Jim McElenney accomplishes the lot with apparent ease. If there’s a little Frank Morgan in some of his readings, it helps to make the performance as rich and as funny as it is.

G.P. Secki is a fine, slimy, gratuitously pious Tartuffe, but he decks himself out unnecessarily in silly things such as painted stigmata on his hands, a painted beard that looks like a skid mark, and odd blotches of red under his nostrils that make him look as if he has a bad cold. Tartuffe is just fine unadorned, as would be Secki.

Teri Ciranna often is funny as Orgon’s confused mother but could tone her performance down a few notches. The standouts in the supporting cast are Mike Miller as Damis, a lisping oaf of a son; Carole L. Cooney as buttinsky maid Dorine, Erin McReynolds as ditsy daughter Mariane and Bryan Madigan as her indignant fiance, Valere.

Jim Rynning’s folding screen setting works well, Charles Castagno’s costumes are period-wise, and Kim Harrison’s pretend-harpsichord keyboard accompaniment helps to establish the mood and punches up some of the laughs.

* “Tartuffe,” Forum Theatre, Irvine Valley College, 5500 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine. Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. Ends May 1. $7-$8. (714) 559-3333. Running time: 2 hours. Jim McElenney: Orgon

G.P. Secki: Tartuffe

Teri Ciranna: Madame Pernelle

Mike Miller: Damis

Lily Gordon: Elmire, Orgon’s wife

Erin McReynolds: Mariane

Bryan Madigan: Valere

Marty S. Silva: Cleante

Carole L. Cooney: Dorine

An Irvine Valley College production of Moliere’s classic, produced by Ron Ellison, directed by John-Frederick Jones. Scenic/lighting design: Jim Rynning. Costume design: Charles Castagno. Scenic artist: Matthew Roberts. Makeup design: Tammy Ferris. Stage manager: Erin Finnen.