He invoked the ire of the church to the point that, at the time of his death, he had lost his patron, Louis the XIV. The church refused to tend him at his death and denied him sanctified burial. It was only the intervention of the King that reinstated him.  

The lack of patronage did not prevent him from writing and staging "Invalid," his final play, which is a satire of the medical profession (and a subtle swipe at the church, as well). The play is about miserly hypochondriac Argan, who concocts a scheme to marry his daughter, Angelique, to a doctor's son, thus ensuring himself free medical care. The problem is that Angelique is already in love with another and entreats her uncle and the maid to intervene for her.  

The crafty machinations of the maid and the uncle include a plan not only to allow Angelique to marry her love, Cleante, but also to free Argan from his unhealthy fixation upon the medical quackery of the day. Their creative solution creates a high festival scene at the end, and since this is, after all, a comedy, everything ends well.

Moliere wrote the script for himself to play the title role of Argan. He knew he was gravely ill as he penned this piece, and he created Argan as a sedentary character in order to preserve his own failing strength. His role was brief. He died after his fourth performance.

Pentacle brings this play to life in high farcical manner. The delightful, over-the-top performances of Robert Herzog as Argan and Andrea Westfall as Toinette set the mood for the audience. This is not a play of subtleties. The humor is broad and earthy, and most of the actors leap into their characters with the exaggerated style for which this play begs. It works well.  Jennifer Brinlee as Angelique played her role much more subtly, which in comparison to the rest of the cast, made her performance seem a bit understated at times. Michael Sanders as Thomas, the idiot son of the doctor, was hysterical.

The set places us in Argan's room, which is filled with potions and "cures" from the apothecary.  The lighting moves us from scene to scene and from humor to humor. Director Jeff Sanders and Stage Manager and Production Assistant Galen Brownson and have created a wonderful setting and mood for this timeless piece.

Pentacle's performance runs through June 16. For tickets or more information, call (503) 485-4300.