by Molière
Translation: Sica Alexandrescu and Mircea Stefanescu

Artistic director: Radu Ghiţulescu
Scenography: Cristian Rusu
Music: László Mircea Horváth
Premiere date: January 31, 1998

Combining the ancient heritage of French farce with tradition commedia dell'arte, In "The Unwilling Doctor," Molière creates a satire of the world of doctors (a theme also addressed in other plays, such as "Medical Love," "The Flying Doctor," or "The Imaginary Patient"), whom he considers great charlatans of his time, more concerned with profit than with the health of their patients.

To avenge the beating she received from her husband, Sganarelle, Martine recommends him as a reputable doctor, but a peculiar one, who does not recognize his medical knowledge unless he receives a few sticks in the back. The servants of the wealthy Géronte apply this treatment to him, then hire him to cure Lucinde, the master's daughter, affected by a strange muteness since her father decided to marry her to a man she does not love. Thus, the humble woodcutter unexpectedly finds himself in the position of a scholar, without having any of his knowledge or skills. However, he unexpectedly enters into the new role well, understanding what no one in Géronte's family understood: that Lucinde is faking the illness to postpone the marriage arranged by her father, being in love with Léandre. Sganarelle secretly helps the two young men, and an inheritance from a rich uncle makes Géronte accept his future son-in-law without hesitation.

Distribution:

Gerontius:  Doru Firte
Lucinde:  Angela Tanko
Leander:  Sebastian Wolf
Sganarelle:  John Coman
Martin:  Elvira Platon Rîmbu
Mr. Robert:  Ion Ruscut
Lucas:  Alexander Cornea
Jacqueline:  Andra Tudor Cornea
In the intermezzo:  Mirela Nita Lupu, Loredana Iuga, Monalisa Basarab, Ofelia Fîrte

Technical director: Eugenia Popa
Prompter: Iuliana Chelu
Lights: Sorin Precup
Sound: Sorin Domide