Unboxed Productions presents Moliere’s ‘The Imaginary Invalid’
This unique theatre troupe will bring the classic comedy of medical errors to life online.
John Marengo, of Oregon, stars as Argan in the Unboxed Productions “Imaginary Invalid,” streaming online March 26-29. [Submitted photo]
The co-founders of Unboxed Productions, which was born during the pandemic, are continuing to produce imaginative plays in an online streaming format with a cast of characters from around the nation.
From March 26-29, the “UP” team, founded by Kim Lynette Sandstrom of Belleview and Jan Thomas of Indianapolis, will offer Moliere’s “The Imaginary Invalid.”
“While the United States undergoes a Make America Healthy Again glow up, Moliere, in 1670, presciently, wrote about the state of health in Parisian society when he created a theater classic about the very unfunny subject of medical mishaps that became his comedy of medical errors, ‘The Imaginary Invalid,’” Sandstrom noted via email.
According to encyclopedia.com, Molière is the stage name of Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, one of the most important dramatists in French history. A satirist, actor, philosopher and master of character, he combined these elements in his plays. “Le Malade Imaginaire” was his final play. Molière played the main role of the hypochondriac Argan and famously coughed up blood during his fourth performance, then died later that evening in what came to be known as a bitter irony.
The co-directors for the Unboxed Productions play are Thomas and local author Bruce Seaman, who are tasked with cast rehearsals, costuming and props. The technical director is Ty Nunez, who adds sound effects, music and more to flesh out the live, online production.
Seaman also adapted and updated this theater classic to make it even an even quicker pace and easier to understand for modern audiences. He also adapted “Plato’s Apology (With Apologies to Plato).”
John Marengo of Oregon plays Argan. Sandstrom plays Toinette, Argan’s clever maidservant. Both actors are graduates of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts NYC, but they met through Unboxed Productions when Marengo played Meletus to Seaman’s Socrates in “Plato’s Apology.”
the role of Toinette, Argan’s clever maidservant.
[Submitted photo]
“The Imaginary Invalid” opens with Argan, a wealthy Parisian who is married to a money hungry woman with two adult daughters, who finds himself beset with a myriad of physical ailments.
“He pays a small fortune to a conga line of medical quacks who almost always want to ‘purge’ him with ‘clysters,’ or, in modern terms, enemas. Argan has a plan to ‘eliminate’ his need for quacks and to pay far less for his potions, purges and plasters. But his plan involves denying his beloved daughter, Angelique, of her one true love, Cleante. Enter, Toinette, the madcap, wily, but smart maidservant of the family, who definitely has something up her feather duster,” Sandstrom wrote.
“Toinette is the voice of Moliere, asking us to examine what we think,” Seaman offers.
“Moliere is mocking the traditional medical establishment. Giving us a new comedy vision, satire combined with reality, wisdom mixed with folly,” Thomas notes.
“Despite enlightened advances in science, the traditionalists in the late 17th century continued to embrace, and profit handsomely from, the Greco-Roman ancients who sought to align the four humors through various ineffective treatments with rarefied concoctions, a favorite of Moliere’s era being the clyster or enema, coupled with purging, blood-letting and exotic mixtures,” Seaman further explained.
“Moliere is widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the French language and world literature. His comedies were often based on the double vision: normal and abnormal side by side. This fresh vision inspired great comedic artists including Oscar Wilde, JM Barrie and Charlie Chaplin,” Sandstrom added.
She also said that both Thomas and Seaman “agree that our contemporary situation is going in reverse as science and medical professionals are now often scorned and spurned while quacks and social influencers gain an increasing audience of believers.”
“Moliere delivers his salvos with a fast paced, over the top, quip after quip, comedy that causes pauses. Because his play still resonates with the truth about today’s medicine, Unboxed Productions will be partnering with a patient safety advocacy group, PULSE: Center for Patient Safety, Education & Advocacy,” Sandstrom shared.
“As part of UP’s mission to support and help vital nonprofits, PULSE, a decades-old patient safety advocacy organization, led by founder, Ilene Corina, has been invited to be the designated beneficiary for ‘The Imaginary Invalid.’ A portion of every donation will go to PULSE and Corina will be on hand for UP’s backtalk/after show glow following every show to speak with the audience,” she continued.
One of Unboxed Production’s main goals is to support a nonprofit with every show. Past recipients include, Project Hope, The Dandelion Project, Disarming Love, Mothers Against Medical Error (MAME), Alpha/Omega Refugee Support in Ukraine and Saints on Stage at St. John Lutheran School, among others.
There will be a drawing following every “The Imaginary Invalid” show for Corina’s book, “Rant of a Patient Safety Advocate,” and Seaman’s book, “To Succeed Where Others Failed: The True Story of the Marshall Plantation Raid.”
Sponsors for “The Imaginary Invalid” include Dr Manal Fakhoury, Helen Haskell of MAME, Lee Tilson, Sabrina and Jay Johnson, Mia Munn and Shay’s Services LLC Pet Portraits.
“The Imaginary Invalid” is the third classic play produced by Unboxed Productions and they will be bringing JM Barrie’s “The Admirable Crichton” to life in July.
Unboxed Productions recently was honored to have their original show, “Almost All About Eva,” selected for the Fertile Ground Play Festival in Portland, Oregon, on April 11, and audiences across the US will be able to watch it live, online from where they are performing at the HART Theater. “Almost All About Eva” will be streamed live at 2 p.m. Pacific Time/5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Links for “Almost All About Eva” will be on sale soon through the UP website.
Unboxed Productions also is the author and producer of the GFWC of Ocala’s murder mystery dinner theater event, “Who Made a Killin’ at the Kentucky Derby,” set for April 18 at Oakcrest Baptist Church. Tickets for dinner and the show are on sale now through [email protected]. The GFWC supports a variety of local nonprofits, from Vets Helping Vets to The Lost and Found Club to Project Hope and the Marion County Honor Guard, among many other groups, Sandstrom said.
“The Imaginary Invalid” will be streamed online at 7 p.m. EST (4 p.m. PT) on March 26 and 27 and 4 p.m. EST (1 p.m. PT) on March 28 and 29.
Donation links for “The Imaginary Invalid” are available now at unboxedproductions.org
The link to the show will be sent to all who donate 24 hours before curtain time. Audiences may use the link to watch the show multiple times.
“Some audiences make their own dinner theater event out of UP’s shows, inviting friends and casting the show to a big screen,” Sandstrom offered.
To learn more, go to unboxedproductions.org and find the group on social media and YouTube.
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