The Imaginary Invalid

By Moliere

Todd Haimes Theatre

Directed by Branden Dirden, Movement by Lorenzi Pisoni

Set design by Beowulf Boritt, Costume design by Karen Perry, Lighting design by Allen Lee Hughes, Sound design by John Gromada, Wig design by Nikiya Mathis, Prop design by Lauren Page Russell.

2026

Daniel Croix Henderson, Bill Irwin, and Ava Lalezarzadeh.

Rachel Bloom and Bill Irwin

Bill Irwin

Rachel Bloom, Hiram Delgado, Bill Irwin, and Brooks Ashmanskas.

“In a featureless void, Irwin appears, wearing a long nightgown and a commedia dell’arte mask. He knocks the floor three times with a ceremonial staff, which “wakes” the show. When capering dottore clowns in academic gowns spill into the non-space, it disappears: The inky fabric floor slithers away, three forced-perspective verdigris walls glide in, and a white plasterwork ceiling drops from above. As this pretty, chocolate-box parlor assembles itself magically around him, Irwin takes his place in a big leather chair.This superb wordless sequence — the set designer is Beowulf Boritt; the movement director is Lorenzo Pisoni, the lights are by Allen Lee Hughes — reassures us that a show about a guy in a chair will move like a hummingbird. Argan’s chair, where he demands that his household and his doctors all attend him, is a kind of Grand Siècle Barcalounger.” ~Helen Shaw, The New York Times

“A handsome, trompe l’oeil set by Beowulf Boritt.” ~ Charles Isherwood, The Wall Street Journal

“Brandon J. Dirden’s lush revival of Molière’s classic comedy The Imaginary Invalid opens with a visually stunning bit of stagecraft, as the masked cast emerges on a blank stage in stunning glow-lit costumes to assemble Beowulf Boritt’s period drawing room set before our eyes, complete with a slanted ceiling that appears to be elaborately decorated with plaster relief flourishes.” ~Thom Gier, Culture Sauce

“The walls and ceiling of Beowulf Borritt’s attractively rendered set arrive to take form as Argan’s parlor, as Irwin takes his place on a central recliner to do his business.” ~Adam Feldman, Time Out

“Beowulf Boritt’s gorgeous Louis XIV set magically assembles and presents us with Argan in a recliner going over medical bills.” ~Pete Hempstead, Theatermania

“Beowulf Boritt’s forced-perspective scenic design, pulled down with red ribbon by the cast in black robes at the beginning of the show, is also fun and beautifully detailed to resemble French interior design from the Louis XVI era, with its floral embossed moldings and floating cherubs on the ceiling.” ~Kyle Turner, New York Theater Guide

“Beowulf Borrit’s stunning, blue-hued set.” ~Brian Scott Lipton, CititourNY

“Beowulf Boritt’s stunning forced-perspective set.” Jerry Portwood, 1 Minute Critic