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Overview

Synopsis

In Molière’s classic, The Imaginary Invalid, Argan--the eponymous hypochondriac--makes everyone in his life miserable with his melodramatic suffering and endless, unnecessary curative treatments. His doctor and apothecary are bleeding him dry--literally and figuratively. His duplicitous second wife schemes to inherit his whole estate. His daughter, Angélique, is in love with Cléante, but Argan engages her to an oafish medical student, so as to secure more physicians for himself. Argan’s foolish and unshakable devotion to medicine is out of control, and it is up to Toinette, the family’s faithful servant, to set the household to rights again.

Show Information

Book
Moliere
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1673
Genres
Comedy, Farce
Settings
Period, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
Argan's household, France, Late 1600s
Cast Size
medium
Dancing
Optional
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, High School, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Child, Early Teen, Late Teen Characters, Medium Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Argan

Lead

Male

Spoken

Toinette

Lead

Female

Spoken

Angélique

Supporting

Female

Non-singer, Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Béline

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Béralde

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Cléante

Supporting

Male

Spoken, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Mr. Purgon

Featured

Male

Spoken

Mr. Diafoirus

Featured

Male

Spoken

Thomas Diafoirus

Featured

Male

Spoken

Mr. Fleurant

Featured

Male

Spoken

Mr. de Bonnefoi

Featured

Male

Spoken

Louison

Featured

Female

Spoken

Chorus

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

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Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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