The Imaginary Invalid - Academy Theatre Vienna

In his famous play, Molière describes the relationship between a self-pitying hypochondriac and his money-hungry doctors as a mutually beneficial symbiosis. He dedicates the play to the Sun King, who was indeed cruelly cured to death by so-called healers through enemas. Molière himself, who played the title role on stage, succumbed— as if a higher power had scripted this punchline— to a fatal hemorrhage during the fourth performance. In their adaptation, Barbara Sommer and Plinio Bachmann update the play to a carousel of hypersensitivity—a competition for the dubious honor of being the most vulnerable. Direction: Stefan Bachmann Stage and costumes: Jana Findeklee, Joki Tewes Composition and musical arrangement: Sven Kaiser Choreography: Sabina Perry Video design: Roman Senkl Lighting: Michael Gööck Dramaturgy: Thomas Jonigk