Where would an insecure man go for the perfect wife? To the convent, says Moliere in his The School for Wives, but don't be surprised if the perfect plan for the perfect submissive and naive mate goes horribly wrong. L.A. Drama Critics Award winner Dakin Matthews (Shadowlands) stars as the foolishly jealous Arnolphe, who hopes to win a bride in his cloister-raised ward, Anges, played by Emily Bergl (New York's The Lion in Winter, Old Money). The new translation of Moliere's first great verse comedy is by British theatre translator Ranjit Bolt (the Old Vic's The Liar, L'Illusion Comique) and directed by David Chambers (Broadway's Search and Destroy, A History of American Film). The School for Wives plays Jan. 4-Feb. 10

Also in the cast are Daniel Blinkoff (Nostalgia) as Horatio, Richard Doyle (The Beard of Avon) as Sam, Francois Giroday (Classic Stage Company's The Circle) as Chrysalde, Hal Landon, Jr., who just completed his 22nd running as SCR's Scrooge, as Alain, Martha McFaland as Georgette and Don Took (The Beard of Avon, The Hollow Lands) as Enrique.

Tickets are $19-$52. South Coast Repertory is located at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. For reservations, call (714) 708-5555. South Coast Repertory is on the web at http://www.scr.org.