For French speaking student performers aged 8-18. Flexible cast size from 20-99 performers.
It is never too soon to introduce young people to the rollicking genius of Molière. France’s most renowned playwright was no fan of doctors, and he used the absurd characters of the Commedia dell’Arte to make fun of them. Les Médecins de Molière features five scenes – in French – excerpted directly from his plays, as well as an opening scene in French introducing his work, and a lively finale in ‘latinus macaronicus’ or bogus Latin.
This adaptation was premiered at the Lycée Français de New York, with a stellar cast of over one hundred third-graders, in five class groups. Performers shared roles, made their own masks, and sometimes donned Groucho Marx ‘nose glasses’ when portraying groups of questionable doctors. The piece can be performed with smaller cast sizes or older performers, and offers an added opportunity to introduce students to the world of Commedia dell’Arte, which influenced Molière.
This script may be purchased as a read-only, non-printable PDF by anyone who is interested in reading the play, but not yet ready or able to produce it. Or, you may purchase a downloadable version of the show along with a licensing agreement to produce it for either 1-3 Performances or 4+ Performances. We honor your honesty and trust that you will respect the skill and care of our playwrights by choosing the license which accurately reflects your intentions.
