The Imaginary Invalid (short version)

The Imaginary Invalid (short version) adapted by Timothy Mooney

(0)
Productions (35)
Comedy
|
35 - 45 minutes
4 W, 8 M, 1 Any (11-18 actors possible: 4-10 W, 7-14 M)
Content Notes: Some mild adult language
Set: A bedroom, including a bed, desk, and chair.

The hypochondriac Argan wants nothing more than to be sick, or at least to be thought of as sick, and tended to by Doctors and Family (notably his scheming wife). His desire for treatment outweighs his judgment, as he tries to set his daughter up to marry an idiot doctor-in-training. Only the brilliant collaboration of the maid, Toinette, with his brother, Beralde, can foil the wife, conquer the doctors, and satisfy Argan. This rhymed-verse adaptation of Moliere's classic comedy ends with a hilarious Latin-gibberish musical finale, which proclaims Argan as a doctor in his own right. (A full-length version of this play is also available.)

Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee* $55
Standard Edition $11.99
Stage Manager Edition $24.99
Archival Video License $75

*The per performance fee begins at $55. Your per performance fee will be provided during the ordering process.


Playscripts is pleased to offer an Archival Video License for an additional $150 for full-length plays and $75 for one-act plays.

Play Details

The hypochondriac Argan wants nothing more than to be sick, or at least to be thought of as sick, and tended to by Doctors and Family (notably his scheming wife). His desire for treatment outweighs his judgment, as he tries to set his daughter up to marry an idiot doctor-in-training. Only the brilliant collaboration of the maid, Toinette, with his brother, Beralde, can foil the wife, conquer the doctors, and satisfy Argan. This rhymed-verse adaptation of Moliere's classic comedy ends with a hilarious Latin-gibberish musical finale, which proclaims Argan as a doctor in his own right. (A full-length version of this play is also available.)

  • Comedy
  • |
  • 35 - 45 minutes
  • 4 W, 8 M, 1 Any (11-18 actors possible: 4-10 W, 7-14 M)
  • Content Notes: Some mild adult language
  • Set: A bedroom, including a bed, desk, and chair.

Published Reviews

"A witty adaptation of the classic Moliere comedy about a hypochondriac and his obsession with doctors -- in rhymed couplets, no less. ... Tim Mooney's new translation is funny and easy to follow..."

Cool Cleveland

"The main attraction, again, is the script, a witty, self-referential verse adaptation by Tim Mooney (who also directs) in idiomatic contemporary English."

Cleveland Plain Dealer

Production History

NOV 29, 2023 - NOV 30, 2023
WH Gaston Middle School
Dallas, TX United States
WH Gaston Middle School Dallas, TX United States
MAR 02, 2023 - MAR 03, 2023
Manteca High School
Manteca, CA United States
Manteca High School Manteca, CA United States
FEB 10, 2023 - FEB 11, 2023
LNHS Theatre
Liberty, MO United States
LNHS Theatre Liberty, MO United States
NOV 11, 2022 - NOV 11, 2022
Milton High School
Pensacola, FL United States
Milton High School Pensacola, FL United States
NOV 04, 2022 - NOV 05, 2022
Milton High School
Milton, FL United States
Milton High School Milton, FL United States
DEC 01, 2021 - DEC 02, 2021
Flagler College
St Augustine, FL United States
Flagler College St Augustine, FL United States
MAY 01, 2018 - MAY 05, 2018
Newnan High School
Newnan, GA United States
Newnan High School Newnan, GA United States
DEC 09, 2016 - DEC 10, 2016
Manchester Valley High School
Manchester, MD United States
Manchester Valley High School Manchester, MD United States
NOV 09, 2016 - NOV 09, 2016
Dakota Prairie Regional Center for the Arts
Jamestown, ND United States
Dakota Prairie Regional Center for the Arts Jamestown, ND United States
JUN 16, 2016 - JUN 16, 2016
Cothill Educational Trust
Abingdon, United Kingdom
Cothill Educational Trust Abingdon, United Kingdom
MAY 30, 2015 - MAY 30, 2015
South Bend Civic Theatre
South Bend, IN United States
South Bend Civic Theatre South Bend, IN United States
MAR 01, 2014 - MAR 09, 2014
Oxford High School
Oxford, MA United States
Oxford High School Oxford, MA United States
NOV 23, 2013 - NOV 23, 2013
The Covenant School
Dallas, TX United States
The Covenant School Dallas, TX United States
NOV 23, 2013 - NOV 23, 2013
The Covenant School
Dallas, TX United States
The Covenant School Dallas, TX United States
OCT 24, 2013 - OCT 26, 2013
Burbank High School
Burbank, CA United States
Burbank High School Burbank, CA United States
SEP 04, 2013 - SEP 05, 2013
The Covenant School
Carrollton, TX United States
The Covenant School Carrollton, TX United States
MAR 08, 2013 - MAR 16, 2013
St. Francis High School
Sacramento, CA United States
St. Francis High School Sacramento, CA United States
JUN 01, 2011 - JUN 01, 2011
Waldorf School Of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD United States
Waldorf School Of Baltimore Baltimore, MD United States
FEB 15, 2011 - FEB 18, 2011
Marin Waldorf School
San Rafael, CA United States
Marin Waldorf School San Rafael, CA United States
JAN 15, 2011 - MAR 05, 2011
Grassfield High School Theatre
Chesapeake, VA United States
Grassfield High School Theatre Chesapeake, VA United States
DEC 14, 2009 - DEC 14, 2009
Sheridan High School
Sheridan, MT United States
Sheridan High School Sheridan, MT United States
NOV 20, 2009 - NOV 20, 2009
Butler High School
Matthews, NC United States
Butler High School Matthews, NC United States
NOV 12, 2009 - NOV 13, 2009
Bishop Hendricken High School
Warwick, RI United States
Bishop Hendricken High School Warwick, RI United States
NOV 04, 2009 - NOV 07, 2009
Butler High School
Matthews, NC United States
Butler High School Matthews, NC United States
OCT 23, 2009 - NOV 01, 2009
Eastern View High School Drama
Culpeper, VA United States
Eastern View High School Drama Culpeper, VA United States
SEP 06, 2009 - DEC 06, 2009
Butler High School
Matthews, NC United States
Butler High School Matthews, NC United States
MAR 09, 2009 - MAR 21, 2009
Yorktown High School
Arlington, VA United States
Yorktown High School Arlington, VA United States
JAN 29, 2009 - JAN 31, 2009
Yorktown High School
Arlington, VA United States
Yorktown High School Arlington, VA United States
JAN 16, 2009 - JAN 22, 2009
Yorktown High School
Arlington, VA United States
Yorktown High School Arlington, VA United States
NOV 13, 2008 - NOV 15, 2008
Yorktown High School Theatre Department
Arlington, VA United States
Yorktown High School Theatre Department Arlington, VA United States
JAN 01, 2004 - DEC 31, 2004
University of Ohio-Lima
Lima, OH United States
University of Ohio-Lima Lima, OH United States
JAN 01, 2003 - DEC 31, 2003
University of Nebraska-Kearney
Kearney, NE United States
University of Nebraska-Kearney Kearney, NE United States
JAN 01, 2003 - DEC 31, 2003
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI United States
Wayne State University Detroit, MI United States
JAN 01, 2002 - DEC 31, 2002
University of Michigan-Flint
Flint, MI United States
University of Michigan-Flint Flint, MI United States
JAN 01, 1999 - DEC 31, 1999
Columbus State Community College (workshop)
Columbus, OH United States
Columbus State Community College (workshop) Columbus, OH United States
No upcoming productions.
No professional productions.

Awards (1)

Winner, Virginia High School League Regional One-Act Festival, 2009