Archive Copy

Revised Version

Musical comedy

Book by Leonora Thuna. Lyrics by Rhoda Roberts. Music by Kenneth Jacobson.

5 m, 4 f

Unit set.

This musical suggested by Moliere's uproarious The Imaginary Invalid transplants the story to New York's Lower East Side in 1913. This is a love story between Aaron, a curmudgeonly hypochondriac who is living to die, and Bella, his flamboyant second wife who is dying to live while there are still some good times to be had. The melodic score burst with waltzes, tangos, ragtime, razz ma tazz vaudeville and show stopping numbers as Aaron tries to force his daughter to marry a nitwit doctor so he can get free medical attention. Aided by an outrageous set of supporting comic characters, Aaron plays dead to find out who really loves him. This hilarious evening of farce concludes with the hypochondriac becoming a doctor of medical science.

"Take heart. Moliere is alive and well.... A crowd pleaser."-N.Y. Times

"The good times roll like an old fashioned merry go round."-Washington Post

"A dose of good medicine. Hilarious."-Baltimore Sun

"A gem laden evening."-Hearst Newspapers

"Packs a powerful punch and has audiences rolling in the aisles...A spirited and tuneful show."-Syracuse Herald Journal

Revised version in manuscript.

(Terms quoted on application. Music available on rental.)