Noted Shakespearean actor Franco Branciaroli had the honor of opening the current theater season at Verona's Teatro Nuovo in Moliere's last play, The Imaginary Invalid (1673). Director Lamberto Puggelli created a production rigorously faithful to the original, a rarity even in Italy, where adaptations have begun to eclipse traditional stagings. (In America this kind of literalism might be found only in university theater or, more rarely, in regional venues.)
The mood was somber as hypochondriac Argante (Argan in the French original; all the names for this production are Italianized) has been the prey of unscrupulous doctors and pharmacists that seem intent to drain him of his money. His plan to have his daughter Angelica marry Dr. Diaroicus's son Tommaso in order to save on his medical bills backfires because she is in love with Cleante. Argante's brother Beraldo hatches a plot to cure the "imaginary invalid." First maidservant Tonina, dressed as a new consulting doctor, lashes out against Argante's incompetent physicians.
Then, after feigning death, Argante overhears his second wife Belina salivating over her inheritance but also daughter Angelica's sincere grief. Reanimated, he allows Angelica to marry her love Cleante, and the action ends with a burlesque ceremony in pig Latin to award Argante a medical degree.
Puggelli placed Branciaroli seated on a raked parquet platform center stage for a good deal of the evening, thereby keeping the focus on the title character Argante. The sets, by Luisa Spinatelli for this touring production of Teatro de gli Incamminati were minimal, so the apt but uncredited lighting design was essential for the proper atmosphere, as were Vera Marzot's historically-authentic costumes.
Among the large cast, Teresa Vanalesti's fresh Angelica and her earnest paramour, Cleante (Gianluca Gobbi), stood out. Argante's medical entourage included aging Dr. Diaroicus (an excellent Alarico Salaroli) and Dr. Purgoni (Mimmo Craig). Hearing violinist Simone De Pasquale was a treat.
A recent survey placed Verona at the top of Italian cities in per-capita theater ticket purchases. The comfortably full house at this mid-week performance was ample testimony to the local public's interest in national touring productions that are presented here at Teatro Nuovo.
