PCPA has the perfect prescription for whatever ails you with its world premiere adaptation of The Imaginary Invalid playing in the Marian Theatre from August 7 through the 23rd then the Festival Theater from August 28 through September 7.
In Moliére's classic, SilasArgan is the model of perfect health…except for the fact that he thinks he’s chronically ill. And what with rising medical costs, it only makes sense he should see his daughter well married – preferably to a doctor – in order to keep his excessive treatment expenses to a minimum. Alas, the daughter has fallen for someone else and the step-mother wants her in a convent. Leave it to the crafty maid to devise a cure for the entire household’s woes.
Moliére enjoyed poking fun at human foibles in his plays. A particular theme was the study of the self-absorbed man, wallowing in vanity, conceit, and greed, characteristics which seem to be timeless. Director Roger DeLaurier and adapter/translator Patricia Troxel have chosen to set the play in the mid 1700s Philadelphia. Parallels between this period and Moliére's include an age of enlightenment, and an age when society engaged in new ideas, new technologies and new possibilities. DeLaurier said, that this setting offers an audience greater accessibility to the play's style and ideas, while celebrating our nation's fascination with science and health. It’s also a delightful nod to Benjamin Franklin and all things scientific.
Featured is Equity Guest Artist William Youmans whose credits include Broadway productions of Wicked, La Boheme, and Titanic, the national tours of Tommy and Nicholas Nickleby and TV and film appearances on Law and Order, NYPD Blue, A League of Their Own, and Little Match Girl. Mr. Youmans will be playing hypochondriac Silas Argan.
The cast also features Resident Artist Vanessa Ballam (The Sound of Music, The Heart’s Desire, Godspell) who plays Abigail; Guest Equity Artist Leslie Brott (The Lion in Winter, Always…Patsy Cline, The Matchmaker) as The Widow Deliverance Dickinson, and Guest Equity Artist Catalina Maynard (Anna in the Tropics, The Heart’s Desire, Much Ado About Nothing) in the role of Prudence.
The design team headed by Director Roger DeLaruier includes Scenic Designer Heidi Hoffer, Costume Designer Cheryl Odom, Lighting Designer Jen ‘Z’ Zornow, Sound Designer Walter T.J. Clissen and Stage Manger Aleah Van Woert.
The PCPA 2008 Summer Season includes:
Godspell, now playing through July 27 in Solvang.
The Heart’s Desire now playing in Solvang through July 26.
Ragtime now playing in Santa Maria through July 26, then August 1 through the 24 in Solvang.
The Imaginary Invalid plays August 7 through the 23rd in Santa Maria, then August 28 through September 7 in Solvang.
Hot Mikado plays the Marian Theatre August 29 through September 7 then Solvang’s Festival Theater September 12 through the 28th.
The Weir plays only in the Severson Theatre on the Allan Hancock College Campus in Santa Maria, September 12 through October 5.
(The Heart’s Desire and The Weir contain adult language)
For tickets call the box office, 805-922-8313 between 1 and 7pm Wednesday through Sunday, or purchase tickets online anytime at www.pcpa.org. Information about Group Sales for 12 or more patrons may be obtained by contacting groups@pcpa.org or by calling 1-800-PCPA-123.
Now in its 44th season, PCPA Theaterfest is the Central Coast’s Resident Professional Theatre Company, and has infused the national theatre scene with thousands of trained actors and theatrical technicians over the years in its conservatory.
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Just the facts:
The Imaginary Invalid plays August 7 through the 23rd in Santa Maria, then August 28 through September 7 in Solvang.
Marian Theatre performance times are 2pm, Wed., Sat., Sun. and 7pm, Thur., Fri., Sat.
Location: 800 S. College Dr., Santa Maria
Festival Theater performances are all 8pm, Wednesday through Sunday, some Tuesdays
Location: 420 2nd St., Solvang
Box Office – 922-8313, hours from 1 to 7pm.
Online tickets and information – www.pcpa.org
The Imaginary Invalid ticket prices range from $16.25 to $28.00 for adults with discounts for children, students, seniors.
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