The Hypochondriac

The Hypochondriac alternatively known as ‘The Would-Be Invalid’ premiered in 1673 in Paris. A satirical comedy, written during the reign of the Sun King, Louis X1V, which pokes fun at the medical practitioners of the day who were frequently as greedy and as pompous as they were inept, but nonetheless charged heavily for their services.

Adapted by Roger McGough, the piece, interspersed with the occasional song and dance, is written in rhyming couplets which is not only very clever and very funny but means that the action never stops. The play’s main character, Argan, believes himself to be suffering from every ailment under the sun and although his ailments are imagined, he is encouraged in his belief by his doctors.

After all, he is a very wealthy man who can pay for any recommended treatments, even though some may cause his symptoms rather than hope to cure them. He is so paranoid about his perceived illnesses that he has decided to force his daughter, Angelique (Saroja-Lily Ratnavel), to marry one of his doctor’s sons, so as to have an albeit, ill qualified medic in the family, someone who has reassuringly has taken the ‘hippo-critical’ oath required of all doctors! You will not be surprised to learn that she is in love with another, throw in a scheming stepmother, a wily servant and a very wise brother and you have all the ingredients for a satirical feast.


You may perhaps feel more comfortable wearing a mask as there is much coughing, sneezing and wheezing from Argan, played by Edward Hogg, throughout the play. Doctor Diaforius and his son Thomas (Chris Hannon and Garmon Rhys) enter to much audience hilarity, “Perhaps you could take my pulse? Simply to confirm my worst fears. How long do I have? Days, months or years?” And so, begins the tale.

The entire cast are exceptional, they can sing, dance, play musical instruments and in some instances play dual parts.

The musical director, Johnathan Ainscough, also takes the parts of Purgeon and a servant, whilst Jessica Ransom takes the part of Beline, Argan’s scheming wife and also that a servant. Zweyla Mitchell dos Santos is excellent as the wily servant, Toinette, as is Saroja-Lily Ratnavel as Angelique, Argan’s elder daughter.

Beralde (Chris Hannon) has some of the funniest lines as he rebukes the medical professionals who between them have treated Argan, at great expense, for every aliment known to man and plenty more besides. As he so shrewdly comments ‘You don’t have to be an expert to be a doctor. Just a white coat. And a beard,’ he says. ‘Medicine is an exercise of hope and disappointment.’ But as Argan comments ‘It’s the quality of the suffering that you pay for’.

The set designed by Colin Richmond is of a cluttered period drawing room, littered with bottles and jars of various pills and potions as well as sheafs of papers. A skeleton is suspended from the ceiling. The beautiful costumes are both colourful and lavish in keeping with the period. The music, composed by Oliver Birch perfectly complements the use of language and style of writing, whilst the dance movements brought a further element of comedy to the evening.

This production of The Hypochondriac is a fabulous evening’s entertainment. It is a humorous and witty satire which is oh so relatable to this day and age. It confirms Molière’s maxim that ‘It is important to teach but especially to please.’ Laughter really is the best form of medicine and I’m sure that like me, many in tonight’s audience were still chuckling as they made their way home.