Le Malade Imaginaire

Le Malade Imaginaire ("The Imaginary Invalid") [1] is a three-act comédie-ballet by Molière with dance sequences and musical interludes by Marc-Antoine Charpentier [2].

The original text

Written in 1673, and first performed on 10 February 1673 at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal in Paris. Originally choreographed by Pierre Beauchamp [3]. A satire on the medical profession of his time, it was to be Moliere's last play.

Translations and adaptations

Usually translated into English as The Imaginary Invalid or The Hypochondriac.

Translated into Afrikaans as Die Iepekonders by A.F.H. van Dijk in 195*, and as Die Ipekonders by Nico Luwes in 199*.

Translated from the German verion into English as The Imaginary Invalid by Wilhelm Grütter for performance in South Africa.

Performance history in South Africa

1953: The A.F.H. van Dijk translation was performed as Die Iepekonders by National Theatre Organisation, with 231 performances on its South African tour. Directed by Hermien Dommisse for the NTO, with André Huguenet, Gracelina Bosman (replaced by Elsa Fouché on tour), Fay Engelbrecht (replaced by Berdine Grünewald on tour), Helena Louw, Danie Smuts, Patrick Mynhardt, Michal Grobbelaar, Jannie Gildenhuys, Bryan Bales, Louw Verwey, Elma Krynauw.

1967: The Grütter English translation was staged by PACT, directed by German director Walter Czaschke, featuring Alec Bell (Argan), Maureen McAllister (Beline), Madeleine le Roux (Angelique), Kerry Jordan (Beralde), John Mitchell (Cleante), Siegfried Mynhardt (Mr Diafoirus), Frank Lazarus (Thomas Diafoirus), Francois Swart (Mr Purgon), David Salton (Mr Fieurant), Arthur Hall ( Mr Bonnefoi) and Margaret Fry (Toinette). Decor by Raimond Schoop and costumes by Clarence Wilson.

1994: The Nico Luwes translation was presented by the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department in September 1994 in the H.B. Thom Theatre. Herman Pretorius was the director and the cast included Chris Vorster, Lisl Wolmarans, Franci Swanepoel, Martelize Kolver, Nicole Holm, Paul du Toit, Gaerin Hauptfleisch, Malan Steyn, Francois Toerien and others.

Sources

"Moliere" in Wikipedia[4]

"The Imaginary Invalid" in Wikipedia[5]

"Le Malade imaginaire" in Wikipedia[6]

Die Iepekonders theatre programme, 1953; Helikon, 2(9):16.a

Rinie Stead, 1985b

PACT theatre programme, 1967.

Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.

H.B. Thom Theatre programme, 1994.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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