The Imaginary Invalid
By Jean-Baptiste Molière
January 11 to February 5, 2006 Jean Baptiste Moliere’s classic satire of the medical profession will have audiences in stitches when an eccentric, wealthy man crippled by severe hypochondria tries to marry his daughter off to a physician just to always have a doctor around. Hilarity ensues as our dramatic hypochondriac spends all of his money to his imaginary ailments, romantic twists evolve, and a cast of characters comparable to that of a dysfunctional family interact. 
Toinette (Jean Tafler), Argan (Philip Nolen) and Angelique (Melissa Mason)
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Argan (Philip Nolen), Dr. Purgon (Timothy Williams)
Cast of CharactersArgan............................................................................................................Philip Nolen*
Toinette............................................................................................................Jean Tafler*
Angelique....................................................................................................Melissa Mason
Beline............................................................................................................Kate Ingram*
Bonnefoy..............................................................................................Timothy Williams*
Cleante...........................................................................................................Michael Gill
Dr. Diaphorus.............................................................................................Carl Wallnau*
Thomas..............................................................................................................Dan Graul
Louisson...................................................................................................Brittany Morgan
Apothecary....................................................................................................Chris Lindsay
Purgon.................................................................................................Timothy Williams*
Beralde........................................................................................................Carl Wallnau* *Member Of The Actors’ Equity Association, The Union Of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States 
Beralde (Carl Wallnau), Argan (Philip Nolen) and Toinette (Jean Tafler) SynopsisArgan, a rich but miserly hypochondriac, divides his time between summoning the doctor to care for his ills and trying not to pay for the resultant bills. He resolves to marry his daughter, Angélique, to a doctor, hoping to acquire unlimited access to gratis medical consultation. The chosen fiancé, however, is an unattractive dolt, who would never interest Angélique, even if she were not already in love with clever, handsome Cléante, who poses as her music instructor in order to visit her secretly.
Argan’s new wife Beline, however, schemes to send Angélique to a convent, in hopes to remove her from the line of inheritance. At the urging of the sensible servant Toinette, Argan feigns death to test his wife’s affection only to discover her contempt. Toinette and Argan’s brother Beralde then convince Argan to liberate himself from his grasping physicians by becoming his own doctor. The play closes with the physicians’ lively examination of Argan and his entry into the profession, full of musical pomp and pidgin Latin. REVIEWSHumor's real in 'Imaginary Invalid!'Florida Today
By Pam Harbaugh  Pictured: Cleante (Michael Gill)
The Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival has its eye on making you laugh out loud -- and frequently -- in its exquisitely funny production of Jean Baptiste Moliere's "The Imaginary Invalid."
And, if you're in the mood to see the medical profession marinated, skewered and roasted over hot coals, this is the show for you. Deliciously overacted characters, intricately embroidered bits of stage direction and buffoons morphed into vivid cartoonish absurdities rise into a triumph of silliness in the capable hands of the Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival.
Where Moliere's "Tartuffe," produced two years ago by the festival, took aim at the self-righteous pious, this play has narcissistic doctors in its cross hairs. Moliere was dying when he wrote "The Imaginary Invalid." Indeed, it was his final comedy and Moliere, as he often did, performed in it. The story is, the playwright died shortly after one of its early performances. Set in an elegant home in 17th century France, "The Imaginary Invalid" concerns a hypochondriac named Argan. Intent on padding their own pocketbooks and their own egos, doctors persuade Argan that he must follow their directions to regain health.
The satire also involves Argan's eldest daughter, Angelique (Melissa Mason), who wants to marry a handsome young man named Cleante (Michael Gill). However, Argan wants Angelique to marry a doctor to have one in the family. In the meantime, Argan's greedy wife, Beline (Kate Ingram), has hired an unethical lawyer, Bonnefoy, to persuade Argan to leave all worldly possessions to her.
Within this brew, the only one with any sense is the lowly maid, Toinette (Jean Tafler). That
fits into Moliere's view of 17th-century society, where upper crust were half wits, besotted by greed and their own superficial needs.
Jim Helsinger's exaggerated direction, Bob Phillips scenic design imparting a delicate French porcelain feel and Lisa Zinni's ornate costume design all work in concert to set the background for a cast that delights in every nuance they can squeeze out of their roles. Using slapstick precision and vaudeville timing, Philip Nolen, one of Orlando's most witty and talented actors, goes over the top in his role of Argan. But, surprise, he finds Timothy Williams already on the next hill.
My oh my, what a treat Williams is in this show. He wrings every delightful drop out of two roles -- the lawyer Bonnefoy and the sadistic doctor, Purgon, both of them sight gags. As the slimy, slinking lawyer, Williams is clad in lace and satin, a long black curly wig, powdered face and a cute little mouth painted into a supercilious red bow. He prances about the stage in self-delighted posturing, armed with a legal paper and insincere smile for every purpose.
As Purgon, Williams, well, we don't want to reveal too much, the surprise is so luscious. Let's just leave it that he is one doctor you'll want to avoid. Add to that heavy breathing Dr. Diaphorus (Carl Wallnau), his bratty doctor son Thomas (Dan Graul) and the masochist'Apothecary (Chris Lindsay), who, dressed in rubber, gloves and goggles and armed with every assortment of horrific medical device imaginable, is a masochist's dream.
Don't' forget Brittany Morgan, who brings in a cascade of laughs and spontaneous applause in her wickedly overwrought Louisson, Argan's squealing youngest daughter. With every new scene, every new character, the audience is delighted, surprised and laughs themselves silly. Although this play is more than three centuries old, it feels fresh and fun thanks to this engaging production.
Theater lovers and theater newbies will enjoy OSF's production of "The Imaginary Invalid." It is so much better than television or most movies. It's also as funny as anything you'll find on stage in any big city. You might even find you'd like to see it again.
All is Well !The Orlando Weekly
By Al Krulick  Pictured: Thomas Diaphorus (Dan Graul)
Say what you will about French playwright Molière (born Jean-Baptiste Poquelin in 1622), but you can't dispute his sense of theatrical timing. During a 1673 performance of his final play, The Imaginary Invalid, Molière – who was playing the role of the miserly hypochondriac, Argan – suffered a hemorrhage in the final act, soldiered on gamely till the end and finally expired several hours later.
Impeccable timing also propels the Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival's latest foray into the author's farcical oeuvre, only this time around, the results are far more salutary. Three years ago, OSF staged Tartuffe, Molière's broadside against religious hypocrisy. In The Imaginary Invalid, the barbs are directed toward the medical profession and those who would take seriously the ministrations of its supercilious, Latin-quoting quacks.
The inimitable Philip Nolen plays Argan with his usual flair for physical comedy and cantankerous self-aggrandizement. Around him flows the usual assortment of commedia types: Kate Ingram as the duplicitous second wife, Beline; Jean Tafler as the sagacious serving girl, Toinette; Melissa Mason and Michael Gill as the put-upon young lovers, Angelique and Cleante; and Carl Wallnau, Dan Graul, Chris Lindsay and Timothy Williams as a gaggle of grotesque medicos.
Director Jim Helsinger keeps the action moving swiftly and makes up for the play's haphazard structure with expansive, stylistic brio. The Imaginary Invalid may not be the best of MoliRe's efforts it lacks a convincing cohesiveness but the company manages to supersede its lapses with sparkling inventiveness and split-second comic timing, moving adroitly from one joke or piece of inspired business to the next. Special kudos to Lisa Zinni, OSF's new costume designer, for some truly creative habiliment, as well as to veteran scenic and lighting designers Bob Phillips and Eric T. Haugen for their usual fine work. The Imaginary Invalid again spotlights the festival's flair for high-class lowdown comedy. It's a soothing tonic for whatever ails you, with nary an unpleasant aftertaste as the medicine goes down. Farce Shows French Tastes Can Go Beyond the ExistentialThe Lakeland Ledger
by Michael W. Freeman  Beralde (Carl Wallnau)
It's been said that the great box office champion of French cinema is, well, Hollywood. French filmmakers have a reputation for creating very serious, introspective and slow-paced dramas that are the antithesis of Hollywood blockbusters.
That may be one reason French cinemas are filled with Hollywood hits that have extravagant special effects but not much social significance -- and why many French movies don't get much play in the U.S. heartland. Even the French need some escapist fare, rather than a steady diet of dire existential angst.
On the other hand, assigning the French people a reputation for ultra-seriousness -- because of the taste of their filmmakers -- would be an injustice. It should be noted, long after Jerry Lewis' popularity had declined in the U.S., he remained a big box office draw in France. The French just loved Lewis' zany brand of humor.
All of which leads me to "The Imaginary Invalid" by French playwright Jean-Baptiste Moliere, who wrote, produced and starred in this tale of a hypochondriac and his wacky family. The play was produced in 1673, and anyone who thinks lowbrow humor is a modern day approach to comedy will be surprised at how much bad taste Moliere indulges in -- or how well it works three centuries later. Today's French filmmakers may want to probe the depths of today's social and moral dilemmas in a way that would exhaust Oprah and Dr. Phil, but Moliere is a splendid reminder that not everyone in French culture views life in such a solemn vein.
The play is about Argan, a wealthy but miserly -- and miserable -- hypochondriac who is constantly summoning his doctor to treat his many ills.
Argan's brother Beralde thinks those ills are mostly imaginary, and that the bulk of the medical profession is made up of quacks more skillful at pinching your wallet. But Argan is so worried about his failing health that he decides to force his daughter Anglique to marry a medical student.
Because the student's father is also a physician, Argan figures he can get two doctors in the family and unlimited access to fine medical consultations. There are several problems with this scenario. For one, Anglique is a beautiful young woman and her chosen fiance is hideously unattractive.
Plus, Anglique is already in love with the handsome Cleante, who manages to sneak in visits by posing as her music instructor. So Anglique and the family's servant, Toinette, resolve to foil Argan's plans for the arranged wedding. But how?
As if that wasn't enough, Argan's greedy new wife, Beline, is scheming to send Anglique to a convent to remove her from the line of inheritance. In the classic mode of farce, everyone stays busy desperately trying to deceive as many cast members as possible.
"The Imaginary Invalid" works so well because it's not just a charade of double and triple crossings, but also a poison pen letter on Moliere's part to the medical profession. When Moliere began working on "The Imaginary Invalid" in 1672 he was dying and had spent five years fighting a chronic pulmonary infection and violent cough that kept him awake at night. So Moliere created the role of Argan for himself -- hence the irony of a dying actor playing a healthy hypochondriac.
Moliere died during the production, which sums up his dim view of physicians. I'm not sure today's doctors and nurses should take offense; it would be silly not to recognize the remarkable medical and scientific advances since 17th-century France, when doctors relied on two rather unpleasant methods of medical treatment: bleeding and purging. Yuck. No wonder Moliere throws in so many enema gags and dismisses expensive doctors as charlatans.
Mercifully, the social satire doesn't get in the way of Moliere's ingenious plot twists. It should also be noted that what could have been silly and strained seems clever and hilarious in the capable hands of the Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival. No surprise there; under the guidance of director Jim Helsinger, this theater in Orlando's Loch Haven Park has taken some of Shakespeare's plays, like "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and made them seem funnier than anything on TV these days.
The cast here is spectacular, with Philip Nolen taking charge as the bombastic, insufferable Argan. Michael Gill as the desperate Cleante, Kate Ingram as the devious Beline and Timothy Williams as both a underhanded lawyer and a rather scary German doctor are great anchors behind Nolen's lead.
But the real prize here has to go to Dan Graul, who is not only very funny as Thomas, the unappetizing medical student, but does an amazing physical transformation that has to be seen to be appreciated. Despite the play's scolding of doctors, this is basically lightweight fare, very well done, with lots of belly laugh opportunities. Tasteless, at times? Oh, yes. But it's a nice reminder that the French are not always so serious about life.
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