The Imaginary Invalid

translated from the French by Miles Mallison

Performances

Thursday 13th March 1997, 7.45pm
Friday 14th March 1997, 7.45pm
Saturday 15th March 1997, 7.45pm

Extract performed at the Cheshire Theatre Guild AGM, 17th July 1997.

Cheshire Theatre Guild Awards 1996-97 Season

Nominated for The Margaret Thomas
Salver for Best Costume

What is a hypochondriac? It's someone you should never, ever ask "how are you?", because, believe me, they will tell you at boring length how unwell they are, how badly the world treats them, and how much they "suffer".

So it is with Argan, our "imaginary" invalid, who tries to propel his daughter into marriage with a doctor. Why? Well he won't have to pay the doctor's fees, will he!

But Argan, totally self-centred, is no match for the wiles of the women of his household...

A delightful play, full of cunning; a breath of fresh air and, in fact, very French.

The Gallery

Poster

About the play

One of Molière's enemies in a lampoon accused him of being a hypochondriac. Knowing he was dying, Molière wrote The Imaginary Invalid to turn both his own tragedy and his scorn for doctors into a comedy. Molière played Argan, and his wife played Angelica. He died after the play's fourth performance, on 17th February 1673. He was 51.