Laughter, goes the old saying, is the best medicine, and dramatic merriment is what the Yale Repertory Theatre is prescribing for its audiences in the coming weeks as it presents the antics of a neurotic and self-obsessed hypochondriac in Molière's "The Imaginary Invalid," the Rep's first production of the season.

The show, which opens Sept. 16, is the world premiere of School of Drama alumnus James Magruder's translation/adaptation of the play, and will be directed by another alumnus of the school, Mark Rucker.

"It's difficult to imagine a better way to kick off Yale Rep's season," says Stan Wojewodski Jr., the theater's artistic director and dean of the School of Drama. "Audiences will be treated to one of Molière's most entertaining plays, as it is reanimated by these two terrific young theater artists... Mark Rucker's production of James Magruder's new translation promises to bring the perfect mixture of comic exuberance and social satire to 'The Imaginary Invalid.'"

The hypochondriac Argan, the "imaginary invalid" of the title, is desperate to have his daughter marry a doctor as a way of ensuring his own round-the-clock medical care. His daughter, Angélique, however, is already interested in another man, Cléante. As Argan experiences an array of neurotic diseases and turns to various fad treatments, his schemes are further complicated by a saucy servant named Toinette, his conniving wife, Béline, and various medical professionals.

"Aromatherapy, St. John's Wort, chats with inner children, drugs that start with a 'z' sound -- some of these modern tonics may one day appear as ridiculous as Monsieur Argan's addiction to bloodlettings and laxatives," says Magruder. Noting that advertisements for modern products make grand promises to cure, Magruder adds: "Delusion is eternal. So is Molière."

The Yale Rep commissioned Magruder's new translation of "The Imaginary Invalid." The alumnus, who teaches translation and adaptation at the Rep, also translated Marivaux's "The Triumph of Love," which premiered at Baltimore's Center Stage in 1993 and was subsequently produced across the country. Its musical counterpart, "Triumph of Love," for which he wrote the book, appeared on Broadway in 1997 after premiering at the Center Stage and the Yale Repertory Theatre. "Three French Comedies," Magruder's translation of plays by Lesage, Marivaux and Labiche, was published by the Yale University Press and was named an "Outstanding Translation of the Year" for 1997 by the American Literary Translation Association. Magruder has been a dramaturg for eight seasons at Center Stage and teaches playwriting at Johns Hopkins University. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild.

Rucker staged last season's "Measure for Measure" at the Yale Rep, as well as productions of "The Cryptogram," "Landscape of the Body" and "Twelfth Night." He is an associate artist and director at South Coast Repertory and has also directed at regional theaters across the country. He recently received one of 16 National Theatre Artist Residency grants awarded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and Theatre Communications Group.

The new adaptation features original music composed by Gina Leishman, who has written for the theater, opera, dance, film, television and the concert stage. Her recent theater work includes the world premiere of "Alice: Tales of a Curious Girl" at Dallas Theater Center; composition and sound design for "Tongue of a Bird" at The Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival, Mark Taper Forum and Intiman Theatre. Leishman's latest opera, "Actaeon," premiered last January at La Mama Experimental Theater Club in New York City. She is cofounder of the septet Kamikaze Ground crew, whose fourth album is due for release this winter.

Performing in the role of Argan is Raye Birk, who has appeared in several plays at Mark Taper Forum, including Vaclav Havel's "A Private View," for which he won a DramaLogue Award. Birk spent nine seasons as a leading actor with the American Conservatory Theatre, where he is noted for his performances as Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol." He has also played recurring roles on the television shows "Coach," "Silk Stalkings," "LA Law, "The Wonder Years," "ER," "The X Files," "Seinfeld" and the upcoming series "The Black Scorpion," among others. On film he appeared in "Throw Momma from the Train," "The Naked Gun," "Doc Hollywood," "A Class Act" and "Naked Gun 33 1/3."

Portraying Toinette is Tony-Award nominee Veanne Cox, who was most recently seen in "Freedomland" at Playwrights Horizons, A.R. Gurney's "Labor Day" at Manhattan Theatre Club, "The Batting Cage" and "The Waiting Room" at Vineyard Theatre and "A Question of Mercy" at New York Theatre Workshop. She also appeared in the Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of "Company," for which she received Tony and Drama Desk nominations. Cox has worked regionally at Long Wharf Theatre and the Goodspeed Opera House, among others. She just finished filming "Erin Brockovich" with Julia Roberts and Albert Finney and was seen recently in "You've Got Mail" and "Henry Fool." She is known to television audiences as an ugly stepsister in ABC's "Cinderella," which also starred Brandy and Bernadette Peters, and as The Heckler from "Seinfeld."

Other cast members are Susan Marie Brecht as Béline; Brennan Brown as Thomas Diafoirus, Maria Francesconi as Zerbinetta; Paul Mullins as Bonnefoi, Dr. Diafourus and Dr. Purgon; Jennifer Brooke Riker as Angélique; Danny Scheie as Polichinelle, Louise and Fleurant; Jay Snyder as Cléante; Susan Spencer as Shepherdess; and John Wojda as Béralde.

The production staff for "The Imaginary Invalid" includes scenic designer Luke Cantarella, costume designer Miguel Angel Huidor, lighting designer Marcus Doshi, sound designer Fitz Patton, production dramaturgs Anne T. Davison and Christiane Salomon, movement adviser Wesley Fata, and stage manager Karen Quisenberry.

"The Imaginary Invalid" runs through Oct. 9. Performances are Mondays at 7 p.m. and Tuesday-Saturday at 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday, Sept. 25; Saturday, Oct. 2; Wednesday, Oct. 6; and Saturday, Oct. 9.

Ticket prices range from $26 to $34; discounted tickets are available for students, senior citizens and groups. The Rep will also offer three "Pay-What-You-Can" performances, at which theatergoers can set their own ticket prices. (See related story.) These will be offered on three Wednesdays, Sept. 22, Sept. 29 and Oct. 6. In addition, the theater hosts several special events for each production of the season, including "Re:Play," a post-play discussion with the artists involved; "Technically Speaking," a post-play discussion with technical staff; an American Sign Language-interpreted performance; and "Rainbow Night," which includes a post-show reception for gay and lesbian audience members. A beer tasting prior to the show on Thursday, Sept. 23, will begin at 7 p.m.

The Yale Repertory Theatre is located on the corner of Chapel and York streets. For tickets and information about special events, call 432-1234. Box office hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

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