'The Imaginary Invalid' finds humor in hypochondria

Michael McIntosh warmed up his cast at rehearsal on April 14 by directing them to close their eyes, hunch over their backs, almost touching their toes, and do an "elephant shake."

And with a play like "The Imaginary Invalid," the goofiness of the exercise was only fitting.

McIntosh, director as well as a professor in Southeast Missouri State University's Department of Theatre and Dance, described the show as "punchy" and "rapid-fire funny."

"Like 'Family Guy' funny," he said.

"The Imaginary Invalid" follows the story of Argan, a well-to-do hypochondriac, as he plots to marry off his daughter, Angélique, to an aspiring doctor, in turn, for a lifetime of guaranteed medical care. However, his wife has her own agenda.

Ironically, the play was Moličre's last. When it first debuted in 1673, he died at the end of Act 2 playing the lead role.

"It doesn't make fun of doctors, but it talks about maybe our over-reliance on medicine and it lampoons medicine, lampoons the strict manners of the day," McIntosh said.

Regarded as a comédie-ballet, scenes within all three acts are broken up by dance sequences, or what Mcintosh called "scenelettes."

Moličre's plays were written for the king, so the interludes were incorporated as a way to please him.

"So he would write his play and then in the middle of the plays, they'd stop and they'd do some sort of little ballet or comedy thing that was splashy and dancy and did lots of special effects and was super funny," McIntosh said.

He added those "ballets" are completely integrated in the up-close-and-personal space of the Wendy Kurka Rust Flexible Theatre.

"I think a lot of our actors are getting to try new things and go out of their comfort zone," McIntosh said. "Because it is so ridiculously wacky funny, a lot of people are doing stuff on stage that they'd never done before."

Danny Kellett, who plays the part of Argan, agreed. He said he has always had an interest in being a part of shows with comedic elements, so when he learned the department would be producing "The Imaginary Invalid" in the spring, he was hooked.

"Every time I do a comedy it's always my most comfortable genre of theater," Kellett said.

Plus, depicting a hypochondriac lets him go all out.

"Basically, I get to just go crazy on stage and it's my favorite part," Kellett said.

Matthew Kauzlarich, also a Southeast student, is the music director for the show and said James Magruder's adaptation generally stays true to period harpsichord music. But it's not without its own surprises, only amplifying the comedy.

"When the harem girls dance, you'll hear a bit of the 'I Dream of Jeannie' theme song," Kauzlarich said.

"This show is full of anachronisms," McIntosh said. "It's the 1600s, but there are cell phones."

Kauzlarich held the same role last year for "Daisy Pulls It Off," although this time around, many of the cast members had never been asked to sing before.

"It's an amazing feeling to listen to them for the first time and helping them out with their singing, because as soon as you work with them even half an hour, it's amazing how much you can do," Kauzlarich said.

Kellett noted the 16-person cast has worked hard to continually push themselves further, and they've done so together. Even during last Thursday's run-through, peers laughed with one another at hyperbolized gestures and silly facial expressions, creating a sort of domino effect.

"Laughter is the best medicine -- that's what I'd say this show is about," McIntosh said.

"The Imaginary Invalid" will run at 7:30 p.m. April 27 through 30 and 2 p.m. May 1 in the Rust Flexible Theatre at Southeast's River Campus. General admission tickets are $18 and $3 for students on presentation of a valid Southeast ID. Tickets can be purchased at the River Campus Box Office, by calling (573) 651-2265 or online at RiverCampusEvents.com.