Wednesday, September 16, 2020

348. LE MÉDÈCIN MALGRÉ LUI (The Doctor in Spite of Himself). From my (unpublished) ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE NEW YORK STAGE, 1970-1975

LE MÉDÈCIN MALGRÉ LUI (The Doctor in Spite of Himself) [Dramatic Revival/French Language] A: Molière; D: Jean-Louis Thamin; S/C: Francoise Darne; P: Le Tréteau de Paris i/a/w Le Jeune Théâtre National; T: American Place Theatre (OB); 4/16/73-4/21/73 (8)

Note: no photos are available for this production.

Molière’s The Doctor in Spite of Himself was here revived in its original language by a touring French troupe of young players, Le Jeune Théâtre National. To fill out the evening because of the play’s brevity, selected scenes from The Misanthrope and Don Juan were offered.

Le Médècin was ably enacted for all its well-known farcical values. Its tale of the servant Sganarelle (Yves Pignot) playing the role of a doctor so as to cure what turns out to be a pretended case of muteness was highly diverting in this traditional interpretation.

Clive Barnes reported that Pignot, “with a face like a moon-calf and an Indiarubber body,” was excellent as the comic servant/doctor in a production that hit “ao neat balance between rustic slapstick and Moliere’s more sophisticated comedy of manners.” Edith Oliver concurred, calling the production “perfect” for those who like their “comedy deft, sharp, and low.”

Molière’s comedy had only one earlier New York staging of record, Off Broadway during the 1956-1957 season.