Updated Molière comedy triumphs at The Schoolhouse Theater

David Begelman

Theater Critic

In Molière’s last comedy, “The Imaginary Invalid,” the playwright collapsed during its fourth performance in 1673 and died immediately thereafter. His demise might have been his parting salute to a calling he satirizes mercilessly in his farce: the medical profession.

The conceit of the bombastic physician who has quack remedies for imaginary ailments was hardly innovated by the French author. It had already been included as a staple of Italian commedia dell’ arte in the person of “Il Dottore.”

The Schoolhouse Theater’s current production of the farce, with Miles Malleson’s hilarious updating of the comedy, sticks close to the playwright’s original plot. The latter has real and make-believe physicians attending to illusory maladies with no end in sight. The capable hand of director Pamela Moller Kareman is evident throughout this production’s fun-loving romp of outrageous situations, impossible pretensions, and decidedly madcap humor.

The hypochondriac, Argan (played uproariously by John Tyrell), is such a worrywart about his health, he believes he is on the verge of imminent death—on a continuing basis. He contrives to have his daughter, Angelica (Libby Conkle), marry the dorky physician, Dr. Thomas Diaforus (Israel Gutierrez), who is the son of the smooth talking, but querulous Dr. Diaforus (John Shuman), in order to avail himself of free medical treatment on an indefinite basis.

Angelica is enamored of Cléante (Billy Lyons) who seeks access to his beloved disguised as a substitute singing teacher. Angelica is assisted by the ever-capable maid, Toinette (played by the sparkling Allyce Beasley with gobs of ingenuity).

Meanwhile, Argan’s wife Beline (the lustrous Quinn Cassavale) is carrying on an affair with an attorney, Bonnefoy (played by the multi-talented Neal Mayer with a patois reminiscent of Joe Pesci). She schemes to secure her husband’s wealth while he is still alive, although the ever-resourceful Toinette defeats her plans. Béralde (Bruce Sabath), Argan’s brother, attempts to bring some sanity into the hypochondriac’s plans—without much success. It takes the considerable foxiness of Toinette posing as herself and yet another physician to make her master come to his senses.

Performers in minor roles also add to the delightful quality of this production. Sara Caine is a ditzy Louise, Argan’s other daughter, while Neal Mayer doubles as a fey apothecary with a German accent who arrives to irrigate Argan’s bowels with a medical instrument that looks like a contrivance designed by a space alien.

Stunning staging, involving the talents of Jason Bolen’s scene design, Kimberly Matela’s costumes, David Pentz’s lighting, and Neal Mayer’s (is there anything he can’t do?) choreography both opens and closes this attractive production.

It got back to this reviewer that another critic felt the production needs more work. Another imaginary nostrum for a fictional ailment? What’s up, doc?

‘The Imaginary Invalid’ is at The Schoolhouse Theater, 3 Owens Road, Croton Falls, NY. It runs through June 20, with performances on Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $30 on Thursdays and Fridays, and $32 on Saturday and Sunday. They may be purchased by calling the box office at 914-277-8477 or online at www.schoolhousetheater.org.