The Alchemist – Mathematical Institute, Oxford

Writer: Ben Jonson

Director: Anna Tolputt

Revivals of any of Ben Jonson’s plays are a rare treat for theatregoers these days, so Creation Theatre are to be thanked for giving local audiences the chance to see The Alchemist for the first time in nearly a a decade.

One of the hallmarks of the company is its frequent use of found spaces for its productions.    This is very much true on this occasion where the performances are being staged in the common room of a university building.  The very modern aesthetic of the space has clearly influenced the decision to update the piece to a contemporary London still dealing with a pandemic.

The Alchemist is a fast-paced satire poking fun at all too common human frailties such as greed and lust.  In many ways, it could be seen as an early precursor of the BBC series Hustle as the three central characters seek to exploit others by playing on their weaknesses.

Director Anna Tolputt clearly relishes the task of making this come alive for audiences with a fast-paced performing style which peppers the trimmed text with many modern interpolations and plenty of direct engagement with the audience.  Indeed, it was these contemporary additions that drew the best reactions from the audience.

It is hard to imagine a harder-working cast on a stage anywhere in the country at the moment.  All five members of the ensemble cast (Herb Cuanalo, Nicholas Osmond, Emily Woodward, Claire Redcliffe and Clive Duncan ) are consistent in their high-energy, characterful performances.  It is a treat to see them clearly enjoying what they are doing and the audience is captivated throughout.  The frequent costume changes are handled with aplomb and add much to the colour and pace of the performance.

One of the challenges of using this particular venue is the acoustic which actively works against the cast when they raise their voices.  On a number of occasions, the dialogue is somewhat lost as the volume increases.

There are also moments when the on-stage energy is too frantic for the audience to fully follow the action.  This is particularly evident towards the end of the second half where the many deceptions and confusions are rapidly unravelling.  Here it is near impossible for the audience to keep up with the unfolding chaos fully.

These are minor faults in what is a largely enjoyable take on Jonson’s farcical satire.  A little more restraint and a touch more clarity would easily fix them.

Opportunities to see The Alchemist are few and far between and this is a bold and engaging reimagining.  Full of fun and strong performances, Creation Theatre’s new production will hopefully see them tackle more Jonson plays in the future.

Runs until 21 October 2023