50p
Laughter is the Best Medicine
The Fine Arts Department is pleased to announce the cast list for the 2011/2012 Senior Play, “The imaginary Invalid”. This classic comedy by the seventeenth-century playwright, Moliere, has been adapted by Tracy Young and Oded Gross and was first presented at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2011. The upbeat version maintains the original story of a hypochondriac victimized by pompous physicians, who tests his daughter’s loyalty and discovers the greed of his scheming wife. Moliere’s play, like all his satirical works, routinely angered influential members of church and state. He was at the height of his popularity, when he penned this comedy in 1672 which mocks the science of medicine (largely based on superstition and dubious medical practices), the doctors who considered themselves gods and man’s excessive fear of death. Moliere wrote the role of the hypochondriac title character for himself, but ironically died after his fourth performance from a respiratory infection.
This new adaptation is set in Paris, in the 1960’s. Young and Gross have included Moliere’s music and dance interludes but composer Paul James Prendergast’s original score influenced by 60’s pop-soul replaces the original 17th Century operettas. Argan (Harrison P), a wealthy hypochondriac, arranges a marriage of his eldest daughter, Angelique, (Valsy B) to a young doctor (Liam M) with hopes of saving on his medical bills; unfortunately, Angelique is in love with the florist’s son, Cleante (David L). Argan’s cheeky servant, Toinette, (double cast Emilia G and Katie R) devises a plan to help the young couple and teach her master a lesson. Other cast members include a collection of buffoons, comic characters and singing medics. The farcical physical humour of Commedia dell’ Arte, silly puns, and irreverent jokes are employed and an outrageous and fun evening at the theatre can be expected.
“The Imaginary Invalid” is being directed and produced by Mrs. Susan Quinton and the musical numbers are being directed by Mrs. Jesse Sketchley. Mrs. Sally Smith is creating the costumes and Mr. Don Armitage is the Technical Director. The play opens 7:30pm, Wednesday, April 18th and runs until Saturday, April 21st at the Killy Theatre in the T Gil Bunch Centre for the Performing Arts.
This new adaptation is set in Paris, in the 1960’s. Young and Gross have included Moliere’s music and dance interludes but composer Paul James Prendergast’s original score influenced by 60’s pop-soul replaces the original 17th Century operettas. Argan (Harrison P), a wealthy hypochondriac, arranges a marriage of his eldest daughter, Angelique, (Valsy B) to a young doctor (Liam M) with hopes of saving on his medical bills; unfortunately, Angelique is in love with the florist’s son, Cleante (David L). Argan’s cheeky servant, Toinette, (double cast Emilia G and Katie R) devises a plan to help the young couple and teach her master a lesson. Other cast members include a collection of buffoons, comic characters and singing medics. The farcical physical humour of Commedia dell’ Arte, silly puns, and irreverent jokes are employed and an outrageous and fun evening at the theatre can be expected.
“The Imaginary Invalid” is being directed and produced by Mrs. Susan Quinton and the musical numbers are being directed by Mrs. Jesse Sketchley. Mrs. Sally Smith is creating the costumes and Mr. Don Armitage is the Technical Director. The play opens 7:30pm, Wednesday, April 18th and runs until Saturday, April 21st at the Killy Theatre in the T Gil Bunch Centre for the Performing Arts.