The Imaginary Invalid

The Imaginary Invalid, The Hypochondriac, or The Would-Be Invalid (French title Le Malade imaginaire, ) is a three-act comédie-ballet by the French playwright Molière with dance sequences and musical interludes (H.495, H.495 a, H.495 b) by Marc-Antoine Charpentier. It premiered on 10 February 1673 at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal in Paris and was originally choreographed by Pierre Beauchamp. Molière had fallen out with the powerful court composer Jean-Baptiste Lully, with whom he had pioneered the comédie-ballet form a decade earlier, and had opted for the collaboration with Charpentier. Le malade imaginaire was Molière's last work. He collapsed during his fourth performance as Argan on 17 February and died soon after. Characters Argan, a severe hypochondriac. Toinette, witty maid-servant of Argan. Angélique, daughter of Argan, in love with Cléante. Béline, second wife of Argan. Cléante, lover of Angélique. Kind, but not very bright. Dr. Diafoirus, a physician. Thomas Diafoirus, his son, betrothed to Angelique by her father. Nephew of Dr. Purgon. Louison, Argan's young daughter, sister of Angélique. Béralde, brother of Argan. Dr. Purgon, physician to Argan, who exploits his hypochondria. Mr. Bonnefoy, a notary. Synopsis