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A review by katykelly
The Imaginary Invalid by Molière
5.0
Very funny script with contemporary 'moments' for women and against quacks.
It seems that doctors have long tried to fleece their patients. I recently saw The Hypochondriac at the theatre (Sheffield) and it seemed to contemporary in parts I wanted to read the original to see just how much was adapted or already in there by Moliere.
A father attempts to force his daughter to marry a fledgling doctor in order to secure himself permanent medical attention, despite being not all that ill himself and despite his dutiful daughter being in love with another and not the insipid, deeply unimaginative 'suitor' she is presented with. The man's wife, a scheming adulteress and lawyer are after his money, while his brother and maidservant between them try to reason with him as to the ridiculousness of both his scheme and his intrusive medical interventions.
Brother gets a good 'ironic' moment or two, referencing the author and play. Maidservant is underused I thought, compared to the stage play, where she has more visually an obvious hand in pushing her master towards a right way of thinking.
The play is very funny, with songs and great moments for several characters for physical and verbal comedy. It whizzes by to a conclusion that ties everything neatly.
Loved this, and would see it again on the stage.
It seems that doctors have long tried to fleece their patients. I recently saw The Hypochondriac at the theatre (Sheffield) and it seemed to contemporary in parts I wanted to read the original to see just how much was adapted or already in there by Moliere.
A father attempts to force his daughter to marry a fledgling doctor in order to secure himself permanent medical attention, despite being not all that ill himself and despite his dutiful daughter being in love with another and not the insipid, deeply unimaginative 'suitor' she is presented with. The man's wife, a scheming adulteress and lawyer are after his money, while his brother and maidservant between them try to reason with him as to the ridiculousness of both his scheme and his intrusive medical interventions.
Brother gets a good 'ironic' moment or two, referencing the author and play. Maidservant is underused I thought, compared to the stage play, where she has more visually an obvious hand in pushing her master towards a right way of thinking.
The play is very funny, with songs and great moments for several characters for physical and verbal comedy. It whizzes by to a conclusion that ties everything neatly.
Loved this, and would see it again on the stage.