first night review: the imaginary invalId @ The lupIn theatre, tulane

Laughter is the best medicine: A first night review of The Imaginary Invalid @ Lupin Theatre, Tulane
Review by Todd Perley

Hypochondria is no laughing matter...except in the hands of Molière, who thought it was a hoot. The Imaginary Invalid follows the story of Argan (Doug Spearman), a perpetual sicky (when it suits him, to garner pity and attention), who is trying to marry his daughter Angélique (Alexandra Miles) off to a doctor so he may have access to free medical attention.

Headstrong Angélique is, naturally, in love with another, and her relationship with her curmudgeonly father becomes strained. Toinette (Jessica Podewell), the scheming maid steps in to facilitate a plot to get Angélique and her hot-but-dim lover Cléante (Brandon Sutton) into blissful matrimony.

The farce is punctuated by a Greek chorus singing of Argan’s follies, a parade of various doctors examining Argan and prescribing absurd and conflicting cures, and a constant stream of enemas (pun inevitable) to ease Argan’s “gentle bowels.”

This was Molière’s final play from 1673. The author collapsed during the fourth performance and died shortly after, an ironic twist that surely would have amused him if he wasn’t ... y’know ... dying. Ryder Thornton’s new adaptation makes a lovely meta reference to this Fun Fact.

The ensemble of twelve work well off each other. Podewell’s brazen, snarky Toinette both amuses and moves the plot along at a nice trot. Phillip Andrew Monnett’s choice to “gay up” Angélique’s unwanted fiancé is a standout hilarious scene, and Spearman’s wild vacillations between lamentation and rages as the long-suffering father carries the show.

Medical knowledge in the 17th century was tenuous at best, and absurd by today’s standards. Molière was ahead of his time as he skewers the entire medical profession, exposing self-serving quackery and hiding ignorance behind fancy Latin jargon. And yet have things changed so very much in the ensuing 350 years? This satiric commentary is weirdly relatable today. Maybe with slightly fewer enemas now.

Why not open the Shakespeare Festival with a nice old French play, I ask you? Make an appointment to see these bumbling doctors now — don’t (ma)linger!

The Imaginary Invalid runs as part of the New Orleans Shakespeare Festival at the Lupin Theatre, Tulane University, through June 22nd . Click here for more information and ticketing. 

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