Rosedale Bible College student Jason Rueger, Lawrenceburg, Ind., plays Argan, the central character in RBC’s production of Molière’s comedy, The Imaginary Invalid. Performances will take place in the RBC chapel building January 29-31.

ROSEDALE, Ohio – A miserly hypochondriac with a greedy wife, a series of crackpot doctors, and a daughter who loves the wrong man add up to comic intrigue when Rosedale Bible College presents The Imaginary Invalid January 29-31.
“Though some of the humor may go over the heads of children under 10, this is a show that will be fun for the whole family,” said director Christa J. Wolf.

Written and performed in 1673 by the French playwright Molière and translated by Charles Heron Wall, the play focuses on Argan, a man who has put too much trust in incompetent doctors. Those around him are willing to deal with his woes until he decides to marry off his daughter Angelique to a doctor – against her will. Angelique procures the help of her witty maid Toinette to convince her father to let her marry her true love, Cleante.

The Imaginary Invalid presents “interesting directing and acting challenges” said Wolf. In comedy, timing, delivery, and physical action are all key factors. “Doing those things effectively can make or break the quality of the show,” she said.

Translating humor from seventeenth-century France for a modern American audience is also a challenge, but cast member Jason Rueger thinks that audiences will easily relate to the play’s characters. Rueger plays Argan, the self-pitying invalid. Everybody knows what it’s like to feel sorry for oneself, and many people like to be the center of attention, but Argan takes these traits to new extremes. The result, said Rueger, is funny to watch.

Wolf teaches Introduction to Fine Arts at Rosedale and has directed 14 full-length productions in as many years. Two courses away from a Master's in Theatre Arts from the University of Akron, she currently oversees the drama ministry at Mechanicsburg Christian Fellowship.

Performances will take place in the RBC chapel building on Friday, January 29 and Saturday, January 30 at 7 p.m., and on Sunday, January 31, at 2 p.m. The doors will open half an hour before performance, and tickets will be sold at the door or by phone. Ticket prices are: adults-$8; students/children-$4; families-$22; group of five or more-$6 (children/students in group get student rate, the rest pay $6). Please call 740-857-1311 for more information.

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For more information about these articles or other news at Rosedale Bible College,
Contact: Kenneth D. Miller
Director of Public Relations
Rosedale Bible College
2270 Rosedale Road
Irwin, OH 43029
740-857-1311
kmiller@rosedale.edu