Moliere

The Doctor in Spite of Himself Moliere

This is a modern, American English translation of the classic French farce. You will find that this version is fresh and accessible for modern audiences while keeping the spirit of the original. The Doctor In Spite of Himself is a classic farce in the spirit of the Italian commedia dell'arte. Martine, the wife of Sganarelle, a simple woodcutter, seeks revenge against her husband. So, she convinces Valere and Lucas, who are looking for a doctor to cure their boss's daughter, that Sganarelle is a real doctor. But, she tells them, he will deny this unless they beat him until he admits it. They beat him several times until finally he does admit that he is, indeed a doctor. Then they are off to cure the hapless Lucinda, who is pretending to be mute. There are 8 male roles, 3 female roles, and 2 extras. Some doubling is possible. This translation has been performed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where it was enthusiastically received.