REVIEW: The Hypochondriac
The Hypochondriac
Corpus Christi Gardens, 18 May - 20 May
This entertaining little bourgeois comedy is far from an earth-shattering theatrical accomplishment, but is a lovely way of whiling away a summer’s evening. The action centres on the miserly Argan, as he tries to convince those around him of his supposed illness. Despite attempts at meaningful satire, the play rarely rises above mere farce, and dramatic sympathies evoked are weak at best.
Despite this, the play has a light-hearted appeal, and director Charlotte Fried successfully balances a need for dramatic coherence with a desire for surrealism. It would be hard not to enjoy an evening of gentle farce in the beautiful surroundings of the Corpus gardens, enjoying your complimentary strawberries. This play should go down a treat as long as you take it with a pinch of salt.
11th May 2006