Bill Irwin Revives Molière’s Hypochondriac Comedy on Broadway
Bill Irwin is returning to Broadway in a fresh adaptation of Molière’s The Imaginary Invalid at the Todd Haimes Theatre. The article traces the 350-year-old comédie-ballet, focusing on Argan, a wealthy hypochondriac who schemes to marry his daughter Angélique to a physician so he can receive lifelong medical attention. It also notes the play’s roots in 17th-century medical fraud and recalls a notable onstage medical emergency from its history.
Bill Irwin’s new adaptation of The Imaginary Invalid arrives at Broadway’s Todd Haimes Theatre. The 350-year-old comédie-ballet centers on Argan, a wealthy man in largely good health who believes he is ill. He plans to wed his daughter Angélique to a doctor, securing ongoing treatment at no cost, though she already loves another.
Molière drew on Commedia dell’Arte: Argan echoes Pantalone, Angélique and Cléante are Innamorati, the physicians resemble Dottore, and maid Toinette recalls Columbina. The playwright, born Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, also satirized 17th-century medical fraud. The work opened at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal and is linked to a famous onstage medical emergency.
This revival could introduce Broadway audiences to Molière and commedia dell’arte, potentially benefiting theatergoers, students, and arts workers through renewed attention. Its satire of medical anxiety and quackery may resonate with people navigating modern health misinformation, though the historical setting could keep the commentary indirect. The production may also support local tourism and hospitality spending around the Todd Haimes Theatre, while offering performers and designers a high-profile classical showcase.