UK Theatre Network

Tim Steed and Aislin McGuckin in The Duchess of Malfi

In a collaboration with Stage on Screen the Greenwich Theatre presents two new in-house productions – Volpone and The Duchess of Malfi. The collaboration was launched in 2009 with the intent to restore Greenwich Theatre to its position as one of London’s significant producing theatres, and in turn to create high quality multi-camera DVD recordings available to educational institutions and theatres lovers alike. The creative team of last year’s Doctor Faustus and The School for Scandal have been reunited – director Elizabeth Freestone, designer Neil Irish, lighting designer Wayne Dowdeswell and sound designer Adrienne Quartly, joined by TV director Chris Cowey for the DVD recordings. Volpone and The Duchess of Malfi have been cross-cast.

 Volpone by Ben Jonson

 Conscience is a beggar’s virtue

 Volpone pretends to be mortally ill in the hope of extracting wealth from his supposed friends on the expectation of legacies; the legacy-hunters all seek to be named Volpone’s heir in order to gain his treasure, and  they offer him precious gifts to achieve that honour. Practically everyone is acting a part, consciously and with intent to deceive. In his manipulation of dramatic situation, Jonson brilliantly exploits the possibilities of multi-layered irony: an extra dimension is given to the scenes in which Mosca intrigues with the suitors by the fact that Volpone himself is on stage, apparently incapable of knowing what is going on, but actually – as both we and Mosca know – perfectly aware of it all. A love plot is attached to this legacy-hunt, involving Corvino’s wife Delia and Corbaccio’s son Bonario. In a parallel plot, Sir Politic Would-be and his wife are deceived by Peregrine, a young Englishman on a Continental tour.

 Director Elizabeth Freestone sets the action in early twentieth century Venice. Her joyful and highly amusing production features Richard Bremmer as the sly fox Volpone who loves deceit even more than his riches and Mark Hadfield as the useful parasite Mosca. There are outstanding performances throughout. Tim Treloar is intriguing as the self-important advocate Voltore and Tim Steed gives a wonderful performance as the spice merchant Corvino who will even prostitute his wife to become Volpone’s heir. Maxwell Hutcheon is the decrepit Corbaccio who attempts to talk Mosca into poisoning Volpone with a deadly brew to accelerate his demise. The colourful production is designed by Neil Irish.  

 Fri 26 March 7.30pm, Mon 29 March 7.30pm, Tue 30 March 1.30 pm, We 31 March 1.30pm, Wed 7 April 7.30pm, Thu 8 April 1.30pm – filmed and 7.30pm – filmed, Sat 10 April 7.30pm

The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster

 A politician is the devil's quilted anvil; He fashions all sins on him, and the blows are never heard.

Generally considered to be Webster’s masterpiece, The Duchess of Malfi tells the story of a young widow who marries against the wishes of her powerful brothers who covet her estate, thereby setting off a storm of revenge. Critics and reviewers have loved or hated the play, with equal fervour. The Jacobean revenge tragedy has a high body count and violates taboos but the intensity of Webster’s dramatic situations and the high quality of his writing redeems him from mere sensationalism, and places this play in the first rank of dramatic
writing.

Director Elizabeth Freestone sets the action in fascist Italy against the backdrop of an escalating European war. Unbeknownst to her brothers the Duchess falls in love with her steward Antonio, and they marry secretly.  The two lovers live happily for a time and the Duchess gives birth to three children, but their marriage s eventually discovered and ther life turns into a bloody nightmare. Aislin McGuckin plays the Duchess wth sensitivity and dignified strength. Tim Steed is impressive as the sexually obsessed and eventually mad Ferdinand, and Mark Hadfield convinces as the corrupt Cardinal. Tim Treloar plays the Malcontent Bosola with quiet intensity.  

Sat 27 March 1.30pm and 7.30pm, Tue 30 March 7.30pm, Wed 31 March 7.30pm, Thu 1 April 1.30pm, Tue 6 April 7.30pm, Fri 9 April 1.30pm – filmed, 7.30pm – filmed, Sat 10 April 1.30pm

Eves     £17.50, £15,        Mats     £15, £12.50

Concessions     £2.50 off

Greenwich Theatre Box Office 020 8858 7755

www.greenwichtheatre.org,uk

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