RSC The Alchemist Ben Jonson Stratford-upon-Avon

• Swan Theatre
  Stratford-upon-Avon
  
  26 May - 6 Aug 2016
• Barbican Theatre
  London
  
  2 Sep - 1 Oct 2016
  Running time:
  

  • 2 hrs 48 mins + 20 mins interval
    
  
  The Alchemist provides an interesting commentary on the current productions in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Where Shakespeare evokes the intrigues of the Danish court and fairy tale stories of Iron Age warfare, Jonson shows us the 'floating world' of Jacobean London, that scrambling mass of rich and poor, tricksters and tapsters that poured into the theatres, filling the Globe or Blackfriars. And, oh, what gold glisters when base characters combine in hilarious cibation. Mark Lockyer dazzles as the mercurial Subtle, Ken Nwosu sets the stage alight as the duplicitous deceiver Face and Siobhan McSweeney's Dol embodies 'conjunction', binding disparate elements into a pleasing whole. Polly Findlay's production is a witty, farcical tale of deceit and disguise, which never loses a sharp intelligence and a considered clarity and what a role is Subtle and how well does Mark Lockyer possess him.
  There is little by way of set, just a few alchemical props and our old friend the crocodile, who returns as a safe hiding place for ill-gotten gains. Generally the sets and costumes are Jacobean, the play is set in 1610 though the lengthy musical overture which begins with Dido and Aeneas and slides comically, may lead you to wonder.
  With plague menacing London those wealthy enough to escape have fled to their country estates. Lovewit, Hywel Morgan, has left his butler Jeremy in charge of his house. However, the trusty Jeremy has an alter-ego Face, who is less scrupulous and most inclined to profit from the uncertainty of the times. He recruits a threadbare trickster and 'alchemist' Subtle, a poor man's Doctor Dee and a quick-witted bawd Dol Common and they set out to coin gold by tricking the gullible citizens of London. A naive tobacconist, Abel Drugger, played by the excellent Richard Leeming, Dapper a clerk, Joshua McCord, Sir Epicure Mammon, Ian Redford, a community of Dutch Protestants and seemingly most of the town are soon rapping on the door in search of necromancy, or the promise of gold through the acquisition of the philosopher's stone. If they can stop fighting each other and manage to keep the visitors apart, they may just succeed, though what would happen if Lovewit should return unexpectedly?
  This is a fine production with wonderful central performances and a strong supporting cast. Mark Lockyer revels in the role of the Alchemist, himself in a constant state of flux between one character and costume and another. He is ably complemented by Ken Nwosu and Siobhan McSweeney as his garrulous co-conspirators. Engaging, interesting and genuinely funny The Alchemist is well worth seeing.
  

  A fine production of #TheAlchemist at @TheRSC worth seeing great work from #MarkLockyer @siobhni @Ken_Nwosu booking:https://t.co/w5ijAwwE5Z

  — B&W Thornton (@bwthornton) May 27, 2016

  When London is hit by an outbreak of the plague, the wealthy Lovewit flees to the country, leaving his townhouse in the hands of his trusted butler, Jeremy. But no sooner has his master left than Jeremy begins turning the house into a den of criminal activity. Assuming an alias, he recruits fellow conman Subtle and prostitute Doll Common to help him and sets out to rip-off half of London.
  Soon every knock at the front door is another unwitting victim begging to be relieved of their cash. Things couldn't be going better for the gleeful trio until they receive a very unwelcome visitor.
  Polly Findlay (The Merchant of Venice 2015 and Arden of Faversham 2014) directs Jonson's hilarious satire that revels in just how vain we humans can be.
  Following a run at the Swan Theatre, The Alchemist will transfer to London's Barbican for a limited season from 2 September - 1 October 2016.

In Rehearsal:

When London is hit by an outbreak of the plague, the wealthy Lovewit flees to the country, leaving his townhouse in the hands of his trusted butler, Jeremy. But no sooner has his master left than Jeremy begins turning the house into a den of criminal activity. Assuming an alias, he recruits fellow conman Subtle and prostitute Doll Common to help him and sets out to rip-off half of London.
Soon every knock at the front door is another unwitting victim begging to be relieved of their cash. Things couldn't be going better for the gleeful trio until they receive a very unwelcome visitor.
Polly Findlay (The Merchant of Venice 2015 and Arden of Faversham 2014) directs Jonson's hilarious satire that revels in just how vain we humans can be.
Following a run at the Swan Theatre, The Alchemist will transfer to London's Barbican for a limited season from 2 September - 1 October 2016.