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tims99's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mariettula's review against another edition
4.0
A very fun comedy by Moliere. It’s a sarcastic critique on how medicine worked in his time, how a man can buy into his own delusions and in the end, the only option to get him to the right course of action is to play into his delusions a bit. It has very funny dialogue and it is read incredibly easily.
mshmshaya's review against another edition
4.0
في الخطاب من داخل جبة طبيب ومن تحت قلنسوته تصبح الحماقة تصبرا والحذلقة علما ..
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Very funny script with contemporary 'moments' for women and against quacks.
It seems that doctors have long tried to fleece their patients. I recently saw The Hypochondriac at the theatre (Sheffield) and it seemed to contemporary in parts I wanted to read the original to see just how much was adapted or already in there by Moliere.
A father attempts to force his daughter to marry a fledgling doctor in order to secure himself permanent medical attention, despite being not all that ill himself and despite his dutiful daughter being in love with another and not the insipid, deeply unimaginative 'suitor' she is presented with. The man's wife, a scheming adulteress and lawyer are after his money, while his brother and maidservant between them try to reason with him as to the ridiculousness of both his scheme and his intrusive medical interventions.
Brother gets a good 'ironic' moment or two, referencing the author and play. Maidservant is underused I thought, compared to the stage play, where she has more visually an obvious hand in pushing her master towards a right way of thinking.
The play is very funny, with songs and great moments for several characters for physical and verbal comedy. It whizzes by to a conclusion that ties everything neatly.
Loved this, and would see it again on the stage.
It seems that doctors have long tried to fleece their patients. I recently saw The Hypochondriac at the theatre (Sheffield) and it seemed to contemporary in parts I wanted to read the original to see just how much was adapted or already in there by Moliere.
A father attempts to force his daughter to marry a fledgling doctor in order to secure himself permanent medical attention, despite being not all that ill himself and despite his dutiful daughter being in love with another and not the insipid, deeply unimaginative 'suitor' she is presented with. The man's wife, a scheming adulteress and lawyer are after his money, while his brother and maidservant between them try to reason with him as to the ridiculousness of both his scheme and his intrusive medical interventions.
Brother gets a good 'ironic' moment or two, referencing the author and play. Maidservant is underused I thought, compared to the stage play, where she has more visually an obvious hand in pushing her master towards a right way of thinking.
The play is very funny, with songs and great moments for several characters for physical and verbal comedy. It whizzes by to a conclusion that ties everything neatly.
Loved this, and would see it again on the stage.
ponch22's review against another edition
2.0
Can't remember if I read this back in college, in a History of Theatre class or not, but I was surprised as I read this for a class now because I thought it'd be about an IMAGINARY Invalid (a la Harvey) or an Imaginary INVALID (a la people who fake a limp to get handicap parking). I much prefer the other translated title of Hypochondriac, as that's what it's really about...
The plot feels very classical--confused identities, lying servants, etc. I can't imagine how the quick changes Toinette has to do could be done (but that's a director's headache to deal with). I honestly skipped both interludes, especially the final one which is in complete gibberish ("This piece is composed of a mixture of dog-Latin, French...and is utterly untranslatable.")
Argan seems like he'd be a fun role to try (in a few decades) and I could see a local theatre (CKP) doing well with some of the farce here. But as a simple project of reading this play, I didn't enjoy it. It was really hard to follow due to the language (which is always harder to read than to watch, plus I'm probably out of practice).
The plot feels very classical--confused identities, lying servants, etc. I can't imagine how the quick changes Toinette has to do could be done (but that's a director's headache to deal with). I honestly skipped both interludes, especially the final one which is in complete gibberish ("This piece is composed of a mixture of dog-Latin, French...and is utterly untranslatable.")
Argan seems like he'd be a fun role to try (in a few decades) and I could see a local theatre (CKP) doing well with some of the farce here. But as a simple project of reading this play, I didn't enjoy it. It was really hard to follow due to the language (which is always harder to read than to watch, plus I'm probably out of practice).
elligo's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
meh, söll halt e kömedie sie und ich hans halt eif nid funny gfunde. what can u do?
jeanjacquesrousseau's review against another edition
3.0
J’ai pu apprendre des insultes du XVIIe siècle! Vive la langue de Molière, chienne, pendarde, carogne!