The Yale Repertory Theatre’s production of A Doctor in Spite of Himself by Moliere is a zany frolic born of Commedia Dell’Arte influenced by Saturday Night Live. Adapted by Christopher Bayes and Steven Epp, and directed by Mr. Bayes, the play follows the antics of a peasant woodcutter, Sganarelle, played with well-honed comedic physicality by Steven Epp. Sganarelle’s wife, Martine (Justine William), seeking revenge after a marital brawl, spreads word that Sganarelle is a brilliant doctor who will admit his true identity only if given a good beating. This is fortuitous news for Lucas (Liam Craig) and Valere (Jacob Ming Trent), two servants ordered by their wealthly bourgeois employer, Geronte (Allen Gilmore), to find a doctor for his daughter, who has become mute in order to delay her marriage to a man of her father’s choosing. Lucas and Valere confront Sganarelle, who denies being a doctor until they proceed to beat him, at which point he changes his mind. Sganarelle almost immediately begins to revel in his elevated status, asking if he’ll get to wear a doctor’s robe and hat. He is led to the home of Geronte where he attempts to seduce the all-to-willing – and married – wet-nurse Jacqueline (played with aplomb by Julie Briskman), and to cure Geronte’s daughter Lucinde (played by Renata Friedman whose appearance reminded me of the late Gilda Radner’s SNL character Roseanne Roseannadanna). One of the highlights of the evening is the entrance of Leandre (Chivas Michael) the young man whom Lucinde loves, whose wigged costume and florid delivery remind us that this comedy springs from seventeenth century France.

Some scenes are embellished with a puppet show that mirrors the action, and others with zany renditions of well-known musical tunes. Onstage throughout the evening is a two-man band consisting of Greg C. Powers on trombone, tuba, and ukulele, and Robertson Witmer on accordion, clarinet, and drums. The production is by turns silly and brilliant. With Moliere as its parent and this cast and creative team as its midwife, the Yale Rep production manages to be both edifying, reminding us of our foibles and our unending belief in love, and just plain nutty fun. A Doctor in Spite of Himself, Yale Repertory Theatre, 1120 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 203-432-1234. Through December 17th.