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].
Contents
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
In English
1953: The A.F.H. van Dijk translation was performed by NTO in 1953, with 231 performances, Directed by Hermien Dommisse for the NTO in 1953, 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
fr.wikipedia [6]
Die Iepekonders theatre programme, 1953; Helikon, 2(9):16.a
PACT theatre prgramme, 1967.
Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.
H.B. Thom Theatre programme, 1994.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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