"Molière was sort of the Farrelly brothers of the 17th century but with more class," said Civic Artistic Director Lenny Leibowitz, referring to the writer/directors of such films as There's Something About Mary. "It's 'classical theater,' but people tend to expect stuffy comedy-of-manners plays when they hear that, and there's a lot of slapstick and bawdy humor in Molière."

The production won't be R-rated, Leibowitz said, "but it will be a little risqué."

WDIY 88.1 fm, Lehigh Valley Community Public Radio, sponsors the production, which is also made possible in part by grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and from the Arts Commission of the City of Allentown.

The Imaginary Invalid tells the story of Argan, a hypochondriac who is happy being miserable. He has surrounded himself with a phalanx of opportunistic physicians and a wife who can't wait for him to die. When Argan decides he needs a doctor for a son-in-law -- and insists that his daughter cast off her true love to marry one -- his long-suffering servant Toinette must devise an ingenious scheme to rescue her.

The Imaginary Invalid is the final mainstage production of Civic's 2000-01 season, which has featured the first major plays of Stephen Sondheim (Company) and Tennessee Williams (The Glass Menagerie). By contrast, Invalid was Molière's last play. In fact, he died moments after the play's debut performance, in which he played the lead role. According to theater legend, when Molière collapsed on stage during the play, the audience thought he was still acting the part of a hypochondriac.

"People are surprised about how accessible -- and how much fun -- the play is," Leibowitz said. "It's got a lot of physical comedy to it, but it's also a sharp satire of profiteering professionals and blustering egotists."

For tickets, call (610) 432-8943.