UK Theatre Network

That Alchemy is a pretty kind of game...to cheat a man with charming

Three con artists – the venture tripartite – take over a London house while the owner is away and set about trying to swindle and cheat greedy people who are naïve enough to fall for their trickery. Their gulls include the pompous knight Sir Epicure Mammon who dreams of a life in extreme luxury yet pretends he will donate all of his “lead turned to gold” riches to charity, Dapper who expects to win millions as a gambler by charming the Fairy Queen, and a young shopkeeper, Abel Drugger, who seeks good fortune and prosperity for his business. However, Sir Epicure’s companion Surly sees through the scam and strives to expose the con artists.

First performed in 1610, The Alchemist is Ben Jonson’s most successful play. It is a cynical view of a world inhabited by people who are practically spellbound with greed and are willing to believe anything as long as it will make them rich. It is difficult to feel empathy with their plight because they are so blinded by their desire to be filthy rich that they actually deserve to be conned.  

The Alchemist is a very funny play and the director (Scarlett Plouviez Comnas) makes it accessible to a wide audience although Jonson’s language is more difficult than Shakespeare’s. The production is fast paced and very energetic. The leading actors go a bit overboard at times but generally the cast is very good. Kevin Millington as Subtle is hilarious and there are also very good performances by the gulls – particularly Daniel Moore as Sir Epicure Mammon, Alex Williams as Dapper / Kestril, and Rose McPhilemy as the clergywoman Ananias and Kestril’s sister Dame Pliant.

23 March – 11 April, Tue – Fri 7.30 pm, Sat and Sun 7.00 pm

Tickets: £ 12 / £ 10 (concessions)

BOX OFFICE: 020 7704 6665

The Rosemary Branch, 2 Shepperton Road, London N1 3DT