The Imaginary Invalid

At the webpage of Oslo Nye Teater (Oslo New Theatre) the following, among other things, is written about The Imaginary Invalid:

"With gibes to medical science the self-important medical profession prescribing medicines due to impulses is mocked. Even if one is not ill one should be treated to become more well; a familiar phenomenon in our day, too.

The self-centred hypochondriac Argan (Bjarte Hjelmeland) only is involved with one thing: his own health. He refuses to realise that he is healthy as a horse and uses all the hours of the day (and night) to partake of pharmaceuticals cleansing, easing and strengthening the condition of his blood, colons and other innards. His inclination dominates everything and all surrounding him.

His daughter Angelique (Henriette Faye-Schjøll) is in love with a beautiful young man, but Argan demands her to marry a young doctor for the sake of 'the kind assistance from doctors and clysters married into the family'. For as Argan says; 'a good daughter ought to be delighted to marry for the sake of her father's health'.

The hypochondriac's hysterical medicine consumption makes him an attractive patient and the doctors compete for his honours. At the same time his new wife (Ellen Birgitte Winther) wants him to die as soon as possible, so that she can inherit him. Good, then, that there is an acute mind among the whole of it, who is able to make a clever plan; the gutsy maid Toinette (Ine Jansen). For as she says 'When a master does not consider what he is doing, a sensible servant should set him right'.

Directing in a Molière-modern style, Kim Bjarke goes to work. With lavish types, classical rococo costumes and juicy humour the health is under attack. A classic comedy mocking out time's health hysteria."

The Imaginary Invalid became Molière's last play. It had its world premiere in 1673, and in its first production, the playwright acted the role of the hypochondriac Argan. He collapsed onstage February 17, during his fourth public performance of the role, and died in his home shortly later.

SOURCES:

Import from the Scenekunst.no list of openings 08/08-2014

Oslo Nye Teater (Oslo New Theatre), oslonye.no, 08.08.2014, http://oslonye.no/hypokonderen/

Encyclopædia Britannica, http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/388302/Moliere

The Hedda Award, heddaprisen.no, 20.05.2015, http://www.heddaprisen.no/pub/heddaprisen/main/?aid=1306

The National Library of Norway, performance program digitised by The National Library of Norway, transferred to Sceneweb 13.08.2015