roger mcgough's adaptation of The Hypochondriac

And while comparisons, as they say, are odious (or perhaps, given the level of 'humeur de toilette' in the piece, malodorous) anyone who saw Roger McGough's joyous version of Tartuffe last year won't be able to help themselves.
The same sense of silliness, of clever wordplay and knowing nods to the audience shines through in vastly enjoyable swathes of this repeat prescription of Molière from the Scouse poet's pen.
But it's also a somewhat uneven evening's entertainment, ranging from terrific and twist-tongued tomfoolery to verse which at times feels like it's trying just a little too hard.
The Hypochondriac was Molière's final play and, ironically, the playwright/actor died while starring as central character Argan.
The past is alluded to within McGough's adaptation, with Clive Francis playing not simply hypochondriac Argan but also Molière playing Argan.
It requires some knowledge of Molière's life from the audience, and, while an interesting idea, doesn't add anything to the plot.
Francis is terrific as Argan, the man with more money than sense who has allowed an assortment of quacks and charlatans to persuade him he's on his last legs.
His household and Hippocratic harem of hangers-on includes a scheming hussy of a wife (Brigid Zengeni), sweet-but-vapid daughter Angelique (Lucinda Raikes), and Molière's favourite plot device - the no-nonsense saucy maid, played with brio by Liverpool's Leanne Best.
Miserly Argan has a cunning plan to marry Angelique to Thomas, the medical student son of ghastly doctor Diaforius (Neil Caple), thus ensuring he can get his treatment for free, en famille.
Toby Dantzic's Greek-spouting, tedious, mincing nincompoop Thomas is one of the pleasures of a production chock full of winning performances and directed with obvious love by Playhouse artistic director Gemma Bodinetz.
There's also much entertainment to be had from Angelique and secret love Cleante's (Jake Harders) ridiculous coded duet, and from a script which dares a series of slightly groansome French knock, knock jokes and rhymes including "theses" and "faeces" along with the immortal phrase "enema at the gates".
8/10: McGough's magic potion.