Roundabout Theatre Company has released the first production photographs of The Imaginary Invalid, the Molière comedy newly adapted by Bill Irwin, who also plays its hypochondriac head of household. The revival has been in previews at the Todd Haimes Theatre since September 25 and opens on October 22, which leaves it a single month after opening night before the limited engagement ends on November 22.
The photographs, by Joan Marcus, catch Irwin's Argan in nightcap and striped nightgown, wedged into a wingback chair while the play's young lovers, sheet music in hand, shout across him. That is roughly the shape of the play: a man so devoted to his own symptoms that he plans to marry his daughter to a doctor, chiefly to cut the cost of his treatment, while she has a husband of her own choosing in mind.
Irwin, a Tony winner for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, works from a translation by Doug Skinner, and the production is directed by Brandon J. Dirden. It runs 90 minutes with no intermission — compact for a comedy written in 1673, and the last play Molière wrote.
Around Irwin, Rachel Bloom plays the maid Toinette, Dylan Baker is Beralde, Brooks Ashmanskas doubles as Dr. Diafoirus and Purgon, and Crystal A. Dickinson is Beline. Ava Lalezarzadeh and Daniel Croix Henderson play the lovers Angelique and Cleante, and Hiram Delgado plays three roles: Bonnefoy, Thomas and Fleurant. The understudies are Brandon Dial, Eboni Flowers, Madeline Seidman and Bill Timoney. Seidman is already scheduled to play Toinette on November 3 and November 10.
The design team is Beowulf Boritt (sets), Karen Perry (costumes), Allen Lee Hughes (lighting) and John Gromada (sound and original music), with hair and wigs by Nikiya Mathis, movement direction by Lorenzo Pisoni and voice coaching by Liz Hayes. James Latus is the production stage manager.
The Imaginary Invalid runs at the Todd Haimes Theatre, 227 West 42nd Street. Opening night is October 22, and tickets are on sale through the final performance on November 22.
