Quintessence Theatre Presents The Alchemist by Ben Johnson

The Alchemist is a mix this comedic story of a fraud house gone bad and a little of Shakespearean flare and you have the making of a great epic story. This could have been on a Modern day ID channel story line. A three part plot to commit fraud which includes money laundering as well as deceptive practices is on display but who will win in the end?

Safety Precautions

You will need to allot a few extra minutes to arrive. All patrons are asked to show proof of vaccination. You will also have to wear your mask for the duration of the play as well. They play runs about 2 hours and a half with an intermission.

Language of the Time

You will hear a lot of English spoken. Reminiscent of Shakespeare time the language is identical to that time. I love Shakespeare so it was very easy to follow along. If you aren’t familiar you may find yourself spending a lot of time deciphering what they are saying.

No Short Cuts

Without giving the full ending of what took place there is one theme that is hard to get around. There are no short cuts in life. The very second you think you have outwitted the system or people life will humble you. In this production you will find Face, Subtle, and Dol who will find this out the hard way. As their plan of outsmarting their customers backfires. Organized crime doesn’t pay.

They are sure that there plan is foolproof.  I laughed quite often because their customers are being taken for a complete ride. The comedic relief is endless.  Some of the things that the trio had their customers do made no sense. However because they believe that Subtle is practicing alchemy so they are willing to go the distance even if it makes them look crazy and takes all of their money.

There’s Always Someone Watching

The entire the plan of deception is taking place you never see any of the neighbors appear to the end. They tell the master of the house, Lovewit played by Michael Zlabinger the things that have seen. He has no idea of all the turmoil that has taken place. All looks well until all of the customers appear at the same time with stories of the plot and looking to be made whole.

A Price for More-Alchemist Plot

Everyone of these victims of the crime of fraud are looking for something beyond their means. From promises of relationships, businesses and more there is a willingness to pay for it and more. The mere fact that they were willing to go above and beyond to obtain shows how far people are willing to do to get. Think about how people behave now. They are willing to pay top dollar for the fountain of youth, or love, or to get to the top spot.

Amazing Character Framing

All of the cast are amazing. They all fed off of each other. You can see their ability to work well when you see how interactive they are. For one the many fights and banter between Face, Subtle, and Dol Common are not only funny as they are engaging. Think about what was at stake. If they were found out not only could they have lost money-jail was very much a consequence as well. There wasn’t actor or actresses that didn’t match one another’s energy.

Audience Expectations

Come prepared to laugh.  This is a full entertaining production.  Some of the jokes could go over your head if you’re not paying attention to the language. If you listen while they are talking and learn to hear it as if it was someone talking now it makes it easier to understand. I must give it to the crew of the Alchemist. The stage and how simple it was was an aspect that I enjoyed. I think it made some of the antics even more unbelievably funny.

Thank you to the staff of Quintessence Theatre. The welcoming spirit is always felt when I am with you. Keep in mind that if you want to indulge in some drinks or snacks before the production you can.  There is an opportunity to also prepay for your intermission snacks. When you come into the play for your show, request and pay so that when intermission begins you are set-the snacks will be available as soon as you are ready.

Quintessence Theatre is located at 7137 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19119. Ge your tickets now.  This production is taking place until April 16th, 2022.