February 3, 2003 - 4:00pm
The Malaspina Theatre department has started rehearsals for its annual spring production. In the works for 2003 is the 17th century classic Moliere’s “The Imaginary Invalid.”
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Director Tony Bancroft said, “I’m excited at the prospect of working with a strong student cast and professional actor Russell Roberts.”
Nanaimo audiences will remember Roberts from his role as Captain E. J. Smith in “Titanic – A New Musical” held last spring. Roberts will play the lead role of Argan the hypochondriac, a role Moliere wrote for himself.
Moliere’s comedies often reflect his own life situations particularly this, his last play, The Imaginary Invalid. During the final years of his life he found himself under the constant care of his doctors who bled, purged, and fed him tonics and tinctures to help prolong his life.
In the play, the hypochondriac Argan, who was financially stressed by mounting medical bills, conceives the idea of marrying his eldest daughter to one of his doctors in the hope of receiving a lifetime of free medical treatment.
Ironically this was to be the playwright’s final work, for during the 4th performance of its premier run, Moliere, while playing the stage hypochondriac, had a genuine coughing fit and died later that same evening.
The Imaginary Invalid will be directed by Theatre chair Tony Bancroft. Set and costume design are by professional designer Catherine Hahn. Technical director Michael Taugher is in charge of lighting design.
The play runs from March 6 to 15. Show times for March 6 to 8 are at 8 pm. March 10 to 13 are Matinees at 12:30 pm. March 13 will have a second showing at 8 pm. March 14 and 15 shows are at 8 pm.
Tickets for the play are $10 Students; $12 Adults and Group Rates can be arranged for $8. Tickets are available from the Malaspina Theatre Box Office (250) 740-6100.
For more information about the play, contact Richard J. Morrison (250) 729-8835 or (250) 618-4770.
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