17th-century farce delivers rich hoaxes, prosperous laughs
| Nothing Special Productions presents |
| The Alchemist |
| Written by Ben Johnson Adapted by Gregory Peters Directed by Jack Dugan Carpenter at Heartland Studio, 7016 N. Glenwood (map) through April 30 | tickets: $15 | more info |
Reviewed by Katy Walsh
Love? Riches? Fairytalk? Whatever you’re in the market for, the alchemist is selling it for cash or velvet. Nothing Special Productions presents The Alchemist. A trio of swindlers conjure up dreamy elixirs for the villagers in need. The scams are housed in a deserted mansion. Dazzling promises lure the customers into the illusion. The people are foolish. The hoaxes are elaborate. The payoff is pure gold. The Alchemist guarantees riches and delivers it as prosperous laughs!
Like an ongoing ‘Saturday Night Live’ sketch, the buffoonery is riotous. Jack Dugan Carpenter directs the huge cast through the mazed intrigue. Carpenter paces the mega set-ups with a zippy revolving door feel. At the core of the mayhem, the household rogues (Andrew Marchetti, Sean McGill, Melissa Imbogno) don numerous disguises and personas to work their magic. It’s a burlesques-style slapstick! Continuous almost-being-found-out moments add to the hilarity. In one scene, the threesome act out a fascinating elfin attack. Their giggly enjoyment of the charade makes it feel improvised. Marchetti and McGill are a dynamic duo. Their synergy is perfected comedic timing. The talented ensemble add to the punch line with exaggerated spoofs. In particular, two supporting actors stand out in stealing ways. Matt Castellvi pontificates in grandiosity. His Laurence Olivier-like theatrics are hysterical. A lanky Ken Miller escalates the joke with uttering one word, ‘sis-star.‘
Playwright Gregory Peters has updated Ben Johnson’s farce from the 1600’s. Peters keeps the formal prose but weaves in a modern twist to the multiple entanglements. By intermission, the number of grifts in progress is exhausting. Not because the audience isn’t entertained but because they know ALL the scams must resolve before the show can end. To adapt a play for the 21st first century, you need to adapt to an audience with a tweet-size attention span. By limiting characters and eliminating scenes, this long con could be an excellent hustle!
| Rating: ★★★ |
The Alchemist continues through April 30th at the Boho Theatre in Rogers Park, with performances Thursdays, Fridays and, Saturdays at 8pm. Tickets are $15, and can be purchased online. The show’s running time is two hours and forty minutes, which includes an intermission.
Cast
Sean McGill (Face); Andrew Marchetti (Subtle); Melissa Imbrogno (Doll); Tony Kaehny (Dapper/Officer); Scott Sawa (Drugger); Chad Brown (Ananias); Matt Castellvi Mammon); Conor Burke (Surly); Patrick Byrnes (Tribulation); Ken Miller (Kastril); KaCee J. Hudson (Pliant); Joshua Razavi (Lovewit)
All photo by Michael Laird
Filed under: 2011 Reviews, Boho Theatre, Heartland Studio Theatre, Katy Walsh, Nothing Special Productions | Tagged: Andrew Marchetti, Ben Johnson, Boho Theatre at Heartland STudio Theatre, Chad Brown, Conor Burke, Gregory Peters, Jack Dugan Carpenter, Joshua Razavi, KaCee J. Hudson, Katy Walsh, Ken Miller, Matt Castellvi, Melissa Imbrogno, Michael Laird, Nothing Special Productions, Patrick Byrnes, Scott Sawa, Sean McGill, Tony Kaehny | Leave a comment »
