By Lucy Komisar
This classic Molière play about medicine in the 17th century gets a smashing makeover from Bill Irwin, the best theatrical clown in American stage and screen since Charlie Chaplin. The French playwright blended farce with satire, comedy-ballet, and even darker meditations on mortality. There was physical comedy, slapstick, disguises, and scatological jokes.
The Imaginary Invalid, opened in Paris in 1673 and was the final play written by the famous French satirist 250 years ago.
Irwin follows the plot and mood, with a bit of modernizing. The story is built around the outrageously foolish and grim Argan (Irwin), a rich man in his 50s, and a slew of site gags –a Barcalounger whose side arms flip open to make getting in easier, plus gorgeous costumes (some worn by men whose demeanor suggests they identify as women). Costumes by Karen Perry.
We don’t know the source of his money — no profession, business, inheritance, or trade is named. He is simply a bourgeois gentleman with property.
It’s about doctors who prescribe pricey medications to collect on the bills, who care more about collecting fees than curing patients. It opens with a riff of patient Argan going through invoices for overcharged medications. He fumes in anger, but pays. Plus ça change.
Rachel Bloom as his servant Toinette gives a brilliant performance dealing with Argan’s hypochondriacal complaining. She knows it’s all a fake. Including the bathroom runs (result of enemas his doctor prescribes), a big part of the Molière play. A modernism: “Did you wash your hands?” You have to consider the vulgarism as how it played in the 1600s.
Reality arrives with daughter Angelique (charming Ava Lalezarzadeh) who at the theater (there are lots of theater jokes with winks to the audience) has met equally appealing Cleante (Daniel Croix Henderson). She gets screechy when she thinks of him. Alas Argan wants her to marry the son of his doctor, for obvious reasons.
When Thomas (Hiram Delgado) visits along with his father Dr Diaforius (Brooks Ashmanskas), overweight and swishy with curls and feather hat) you couldn’t find a more creepy, stupid, offensive guy. Thomas has black hair cut around a bowl, fills his nasal blather with pretentious Latin. His opener (guys know not to do this) is how much he’d like to sire progeny with Angelique. Father interjects that Thomas has been “practicing,” alone.
The doctor indicates he likes treating the masses because you never have to deal with the outcomes. The well born expect doctors to cure them.
The other essential character is Beline (Crystal A. Dickinson), a lascivious LA showgirl type Argan married on the death of Angelique’s mother. Beline is plotting to take her husband’s fortune. (Enter a “notary” to do the deed.) And send Angelique to a nunnery.
Fortunately, Argan’s brother arrives to organize the dénouement. Interrupted by Fleurant (Delgado again), a weird fellow with an eye patch who resembles a brigand and brandishes a giant syringe that looks like a war weapon. Attack defeated.
Brother Beralde and Toinette organize a plot to show Argan who really cares about him. As we know, “Nothing tragic ever happened from pretending to be dead.” (Wink to the audience that knows their Shakespeare). And all’s well that ends well.
The message: “If the profit motive puts you through a portal /To poke and peel you /And the billing services double deal you …” Answer is there are some good doctors. Hello! How about Medicare for All, and of course chapeau to Luigi.
Director Brandon Dirden is brilliant in making this a vaudeville and bizarre comic delight. Karen Perry’s costumes are sensational, beginning with the opening when characters in, black velvet capes white ruche collars, red sashes dance out to baroque music of the time like a pageant
Sometimes I thought the farce descended to silliness, but most of it was on point. Especially when you think about the corruption of some doctors who scammed their patients centuries ago. Again, plus ça change.
“The Imaginary Invalid.” By Moliere adapted by Bill Irwin. Directed by Brandon J. Dirden. Todd Haimes Theatre, 220 West 42 St, NYC. runtime 1h30. Opened Oct 22, 2026, closes Nov 22, 2026.