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THE HYPOCHONDRIAC
A comedy of medical madness by Jean-Baptiste Poquelin Moliére
Translated by Gerard Murphy
7 - 18 May 2008
Drama Centre Black Box @ National Library

THE HYPOCHONDRIAC: A Hilarious Comedy of Medical Proportions
Meet Argan, a wealthy and mostly healthy man who’s nonetheless convinced that he’s plagued by a slew of obscure and no doubt fatal diseases! This hypochondriac is preyed upon by his doctors and pharmacists, who get rich by prescribing him outrageous remedies at even more outrageous prices. Sneakily, Argan decides to marry his charming daughter Angelique to a doctor’s son – thus guaranteeing him free lifetime in-house medical care! However, Angelique loves another man, and so it’s up to the feisty maid Toinette to devise a plan to stop the forced marriage and knock some sense into Argan. Add a nagging brother, a two-faced trophy wife and a barrage of doctors and lawyers – and you get duplicity, disguises and madcap hilarity!

The Hypochondriac is a new translation of The Imaginary Invalid, one of Moliére’s most popular plays, notorious for its razor-sharp satire of the medical profession of Moliére’s day and its farcical depiction of a society that has more wealth and pretension than common sense!

This new translation by Gerard Murphy brings out the wit and wackiness of Moliére’s original, revelling in racy and raucous delight. The language is fresh and contemporary, and the play packed with timeless comic devices. young & W!LD’s production will adapt the playful Commedia dell ‘Arte style into a fast-paced, laugh-a-minute treat, full of movement and music.

The Hypochondriac is the young & W!LD’s third production, after the acclaimed On North Diversion Road and Mad Forest. In keeping with our aim to create provocative, unique and unforgettable productions, young & W!LD is proud to bring Moliére’s comic genius to life for the first time for Singapore audiences.

The training and rehearsal process for The Hypochondriac is another phase in young & W!LD’s ongoing dedication to actor training, and the style of high comedy required to bring this Moliére masterpiece to life offers the young actors many thrilling challenges. Led by Singapore’s leading mime and commedia dell ‘arte artiste Christina Sergeant, the young & W!LD ensemble began workshops in February, exploring the artful physical stylization and intricate comic rhythms of a Renaissance performance style that has shaped much of modern day comedy – from the slapstick to the sitcom!

Their training culminates in a 2-week run from 7 to 18 May 2008 at the Drama Centre Black Box (see Appendix for ticketing details). This is a rare chance for local audiences to see this great comedy classic in an infectious new production that will leave you aching from laughter! The Hypochondriac is a must-see for anyone who’s ever been or seen a doctor!

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Winner, BEST ENSEMBLE (Mad Forest)
LIFE! Theatre Awards 2008
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Reviews
Critics on On North Diversion Road:
"lots of fizz and sparkle on this road trip... an exuberant production"
SPH The Straits Times Life!

"The future of Singapore theatre is wild.”
SPH The Business Times

Critics on Mad Forest:
“ …what the 13 performers accomplish is nothing short of breathtaking… The entire thing mesmerizes like a taut, fervent dance; the ensemble moves and breathes as one.”
SPH The Straits Times Life!

“ …possibly the most intense play I've seen all year… Young & W!LD is becoming that rarest of rare things, a young people's theatre group that can hold its ground with professional companies.”
The Flying Inkpot