Idaho State University presents its first Featured Event of Season: “The Imaginary Invalid”

The play, set to be performed at the Black Box Theatre at Stephens Performing Arts Center, promises an evening of laughter and entertainment for patrons. The play follows the wealthy, caustic Argan who is convinced he is chronically and deathly ill. His greedy doctors concur, of course. They prescribe all sorts of cures: leeches, tonics, poultices, and enemas. As a way of saving money on medical bills, Argan has conspired to marry his daughter off to an up-and-coming medical student. Unfortunately, his daughter has her heart set on someone else, and comedic chaos ensues. 

"I have wanted to do this play for a long time. It is hilarious, and very bawdy in its handling of medicine and its treatments, which might at first glance seem like this is a play of buffoons making jokes about gas, bloating, and incontinence" said Director, and ISU Theatre Dept. faculty, Jef Petersen. "However, like Italian Commedia dell Arte, the form from which this play is descended, this play is an exploration about what it means to be human; what it means to fail; what it means to grieve; to love; to be so frightened of living that you stop living all together; to want something so bad that you would do anything to get it; and, to live life to its fullest to the very end." 

Performance dates are scheduled for October 4, 5, 10-12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre at Stephens Performing Arts Center. The traditional Afterglow reception on opening night will offer refreshments for purchase and the opportunity to mingle with the cast and artistic team. For more information and ticket reservations, please visit www.isu.edu/theatre or call (208) 282-3595.