Don’t have health insurance? Then consider arranging a marriage between your daughter and a doctor—or so goes the logic in Moliere’s “The Imaginary Invalid,” now being staged by the Eastern Michigan University theater department.

Apparently, anxiety about rising medical costs, especially for hypochondriacs, is a centuries-old problem, embodied by “Invalid”’s Argon, who schemes to make such a match in order to retain free medical care for the rest of his life. However, his gold-digging wife, his sassy housekeeper, and his daughter, who’s already in love with a non-doctor, each have plans of their own.

For EMU’s production, Lee Stille chose James Magruder’s contemporary translation/adaptation, which, according to a press release, “includes a prelude, interludes and a grand finale that bring Moliere’s outrageous social commentary on doctors and medicine back to the ‘comédie ballet’ that Moliere had originally intended.

That is to say, there are musical numbers—one in each act—in this play, thus incorporating bebopping satyrs; harem girls doing a Bollywood/hiphop mash-up and an opera tango; and a mariachi chorus of doctors.

Do these music numbers speak directly to the play’s content? Not really.

“The contemporary equivalent would be a Rockettes spectacular, with big extravagant set pieces, and performers wearing masks,” said Stille. “It was originally an opportunity to pay homage to those funding the event, or the king, or dignitaries, and this was done in a variety of forms. Some playwrights of the time specialized in writing these special skits, and they became more popular than actual plays. But Moliere used them as transitions.”

Ironically, “Invalid” turned out to be Moliere’s last play, as he collapsed while performing in it in 1673, and died shortly thereafter.

“I would argue that he was at the height of his form with (‘Invalid’), and if he had not gotten sick, he might well have crafted more great works,” said Stille. “Initially, my colleagues more familiar than I was, … but once I actually sat down to read it, I was laughing out loud. It’s got some really sharp criticism, and it’s a powerful indictment of the medical profession.”

The problem with contemporary translations, of course, is that cultural/political references often date themselves quickly; and indeed, Stille has had to remove references to Hilary Clinton’s battle for health care reform in the ‘90s.

But even so, Stille said, “We’ve had a great amount of fun doing this.”

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.