Last Chance Theater

“School for Wives”--The world recently became keenly aware that some men still think women should remain cloistered, virtually uneducated and completely submissive. This is also the opinion of Arnolphe, the wonderful and horrible hub of Moliere’s “The School for Wives,” written in 1662. Arnolphe goes to great lengths to train the perfect wife, using the above guidelines, only to receive one of the most humiliating comeuppances in the history of comedy. South Coast Repertory’s leaders certainly weren’t thinking of the Taliban when they decided to produce the play, nor is there any evidence onstage that director David Chambers wanted to emphasize that train of thought. Nonetheless, it’s hard not to think of the Afghan parallel when Arnolphe speaks of the importance of wives’ keeping their “eyes low,” or when the suitor who wrecks Arnolphe’s plan talks of how love has “begun to lift the veil.” That parallel is just one more layer on a staging that is already dazzling in two of its central components: a virtuoso performance by Dakin Matthews as Arnolphe and a provocative set designed by Darcy Scanlin, whose work helps usher us into Arnolphe’s mind.

Don Shirley

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“School for Wives,” South Coast Repertory Theatre, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, (714) 708-5555. Today and Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 2:30 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. $27 to $52.

Also closing this weekend:

“Synergy”--L.A. Theatre Works’ live radio theater production of Keith Reddin’s satire of morality and corporate life ends Sunday at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A. (310) 827-0889.

12th Annual Celebration of Iranian Cinema--The film series ends with a screening of “Going By,” the first feature by noted Iranian film critic Iraj Karimi, Sunday at 7 p.m. in the James Bridges Theater, in Melnitz Hall near Sunset Boulevard and Hilgard Avenue, (310) 206-8013.

American Cinematheque’s “Technicolor Dreams” festival--The second annual Festival of Dye Transfer Technicolor at the Movies wraps up Sunday at 7:30 p.m. with the Oscar winner for best picture from 1966, “A Man for All Seasons,” at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, (323) 466-3456.