The Imaginary Invalid is a 1948 Australian stage play adapted by Creswick Jenkinson from The Imaginary Invalid by Moliere. While an adaptation, its production became famous in Australian theatre folklore because Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh saw a production at O'Brien's Glass Factory in Sydney, which lead to them inviting its star, Peter Finch, to London. It was also an adaptation of the play which cut it down to 50 minutes, enabling it to be performed at workplaces during lunch time; was unusual in Australian theatre at the time.^[1]

By the mid-1940s Peter Finch was established as one of the leading radio actors in Sydney. However he was dissatisfied with the state of Australian theatre, and so in 1946 he formed a theatre company, Mercury, with Sydney John Kay that produced a number of touring shows (Finch drew on his experience of touring shows when in the army).^[2] These included an adaptation of The Imaginary Invalid by Australian radio writer Creswick Jenkinson.^[3]

Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh were touring Australia in 1948 with Olivier's Old Vic Company. He asked to see some local theatre and was constantly recommended to see Peter Finch. Olivier and Leigh saw a production of The Imaginary Invalid held by the Mercury at O'Brien's Glass Factory at lunchtime on 18 August 1948. Olivier was so impressed he invited Finch to London.^[4][5]

Olivier later recalled:

I realised he had that very, very rare quality that made you watch him. He was absolute magic! He was a natural clown. The inventive bits of comic business woven into the performance of the youngish-looking hypochondriac had the whole lot of us rocking with laughter. Peter didn’t attempt to make him look too old. That was where he was clever! He had imagination, an innate sense of comedy, and was able to weave his own original brilliance into Moliere’s masterpiece. Stunning!^[6]

British film director Harry Watt also saw the performance. Finch left Australia towards the end of 1948, and later signed under contract to Olivier. He also had an affair with Vivien Leigh and made his first British film for Watt.^[7]

The Mercury then performed the play at Killara Hall on a bill of one act plays. The Bulletin said "Finch’s performance was excellent —the kind of study in voice, gesture and pose that is worth going miles to see. The rest of the cast set the comedy off perfectly."^[8]

Finch appeared in another lunchtime production of the play at Sydney Town Hall in September 1948 shortly before leaving Australia.^[9] Reviewing the latter the Sydney Morning Herald said it "The performance had pace, style, and some excellent acting, notably from Peter Finch in the central role."^[10]

Sydney John Kay revived the adaptation in 1952, with Alan White replacing Finch in the cast.^[11]

Jenkinson and the Mercury tried to repeat the success of Imaginary Invalid with The Pickwick Papers, an adaptation of The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens but it was less well received.^[12]

• Allan Ashbolt
• John Brunskill
• Elsie Dayne
• John Faassen
• Peter Finch'
• Franz Folmer
• Patricia Harrison
• Arthur Husband
• Tom Lake
• Al Thomas
• June Wimblw