Imagining The Imaginary Invalid will be constructed (or deconstructed) from Molière's three-act comedie-ballet The Imaginary Invalid, and will be intercut with historical references to the evolution of American medicine from the healing arts to present day practice, written by Valeria Vasilevski. Ruth Maleczech will embody two characters, Argan and Molière who will serve as a guide to the play, and to the healing profession. Structured as a Socratic argument, the piece will, at times, follow the character Argan accompanied by a chorus of nurses, doctors, historians and characters from the original play. Molière will interrupt the play to conduct the medical, artistic, historical arguments with Argan. Ms. Maleczech will switch between the dual roles using electronic vocal manipulation, lightning quick costume changes, ventriloquism, magic, and masks.
All seven of the ballets will be danced to adaptations of composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier's original music performed on a combination of 17th century musical instruments and modern medical instruments. The choreography by Clove Galilee evokes steps from Contra Dance, an American folk dance which closely approximates Baroque dance movements from the 17^th century.

The language Molière used, Italian, French and Latin, will be used in this piece along with English translations of French and Italian. The intercutting language outlining the American medical material will be in English and Latin. There will be a wide use of fractured French and Italian as well as English malapropisms to support the comedy.