Molière’s The Hypochondriac at Eternity Playhouse. Photo by Robert Catto.
In this new vibrant translation by Hilary Bell, Molière’s The Hypochondriac has been cleverly updated and now features the use of mobile phones, headphones, electronic buzzers and the like. It’s played as a farce with lots of slapstick, clowning and allusions to commedia del’arte.
Molière’s play, as updated by Bell, is a bitingly savage satire on the medical profession and its links with major pharmaceutical companies. (Here, instead of the pastoral ballets and interludes Molière originally had we have parodies of pharmaceutical advertisements.) This story is also a critique on the institution of marriage, the older generation regarding it as a financial transaction, while the younger are all afire to marry who they wish for love.
Argan, the Hypochondriac of the title, is played by Darren Gilshenan as a dominating, self-centred tyrannical family monster. He is blinded by his faith in doctors and can no longer tell who is honest any more. GiIshenan utilises his rigorously controlled comic timing to deliver a man tossed and driven by events he can only partially control.
Stunning, glamorous Beline, Argan’s hypocritical wife, is deliciously played by Sophie Gregg as scheming and manipulative. All Beline really cares about is getting her hands on Argan’s money and she reveals her true self in a blistering denunciation of her husband.
Angelique, Argan’s daughter is played by Emma Harvie as a fiery determined young woman who knows her own mind and fights for her chance at happiness, to be with her love Cleante. She dominates the famous ‘music lesson’ scene (which in this production features a drum kit she madly plays at one point).
Gabriel Fancourt is in tremendous form in his three roles. He is a terribly handsome byronic guitar playing passionate Cleante in love with Angelique. There is the stock situation of the young lover trying to get through a window. He also has great fun as smarmy used car salesman like lawyer Bonnefoy in a trendy suit and sunglasses, in cahoots with Beline, and he also plays Argan’s saner, athletic, posturing brother Beralde.
Toniette the maid is magnificently played by Lucia Mastrantone. Toniette is fiery and outspoken and tries to help Angelique. Mastrantone has great fun when Toinette is ‘in disguise’ as a doctor using a hairpiece as a beard.
The Diafoiruses, father and son, are played by Monica Sayers and Jamie Oxenbould as the nervous, stuttering, rather dim- witted foolish son.
Each of the production elements are great. The show has tremendous direction, pacing and phrasing by Jo Turner and the terrific cast perform with great relish. However, sorry folks, I didn’t find this at all funny. Yet almost all the rest of the audience really enjoyed it and the theatre was rocking with laughter.
The set design by Michael Hankin is elegantly opulently minimalist with basically a plain stage and a slightly raised platform – acting as Argan’s bed – and a curved circle of curtains at the back (hiding a window and doors). The show is splendidly lit by Verity Hampson.
Rating: 3 ½ stars ★★★☆
Molière’s The Hypochondriac
Playwright: Molière (a new version by Hilary Bell)
Director: Jo Turner
Cast: Gabriel Fancourt, Darren Gilshenan, Sophie Gregg, Emma Harvie, Lucia Mastrantone, Jamie Oxenbould, Monica Sayers
The Eternity Playhouse
9 June – 1 July 2018
