“[Matthew A.J. Gregory’s] version of The Imaginary Invalid is Molière updated… the bedside circus surrounding Argan, a man with a mysterious illness, is truly big top–worthy.”
Ronni Reich, BackStage
 

THE IMAGINARY INVALID is the perfect send-up of our nation’s beleaguered healthcare system and the cure for the affliction from which we all suffer:  A malnourished sense of humor!
 
After a wildly popular presentation was cut short ironically due to illness, Deadline Productions is triumphantly remounting this new adaptation of Molière’s THE IMAGINARY INVALID in Manhattan’s The Cell Theatre this summer.
 
A contemporary re-imagining of Molière’s last play, this production satirizes today’s pill-popping culture and profit-driven health care system.  The play takes place in a swank Manhattan loft apartment, awash with art that’s now overflowing with pill bottles, bed pans and medical paraphernalia. The original musical interludes in the play are now replaced by faux pharmaceutical commercials which promote questionable drug treatments and their unpleasant side effects.
 
The story revolves around Argan, a wealthy and eccentric hypochondriac, who is plagued by a gold-digging wife, an insolent maid, a rebellious young daughter and an infestation of drug-peddling, incompetent doctors.  Argan is actually in fine health but is so doped up that the side effects alone have him convinced that he is dying.  Through a series of hilarious tricks and outrageous disguises, Argan’s fast-talking maid and exasperated brother work furiously to cure Argan of his true malady:  his doctors are the real disease.

Dates 
Opens:   July 23rd, 2009
Closes:   August 2nd, 2009
  
Show’s website:  www.deadlineproductions.org

Show Times

Evening performances at 8pm on July 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 30th, 31st, August 1st and August 2nd.