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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
The Imaginary Invalid (French title: La Malade Imaginaire) is one of the most well-known plays of French playwright Molière. The comédie-ballet premiered at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal in Paris on February 10, 1673. It featured music and dance interludes by composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier. The Imaginary Invalid is Molière’s final work. During the fourth performance, Molière, playing Argan, collapsed twice; he was taken home, and died later that night.
to read the context for The Imaginary Invalid and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
[FIRST INTERLUDE: The play begins with a pastoral song and dance, telling the story of two shepherdesses, Climene and Daphne, who fall in love with two shepherds, Tircis and Dorilas. Modern productions may cut this.]
ACT ONE
Argan, the imaginary invalid of the play’s title, sits alone, cheerfully reviewing his medical bills. He is a dramatic hypochondriac, who believes himself to be suffering from countless ailments, and will take any and all medicines prescribed to him by doctors,
to read the plot for The Imaginary Invalid and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer, Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
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
Scenes
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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