The Alchemist review, Swan Theatre, Stratford
There was a moment of unplanned drama in Polly Findlay's energetic and endearing production of the Ben Jonson comedy.
Shortly after the interval on press night, veteran actor Mark Lockyer, playing Subtle the fake alchemist, kneeled down and seemed in pain and unable to rise.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm afraid we're going to have to stop there," co-star Ken Nwosu told the shocked audience. Theatre staff helped Lockyer off stage and RSC artistic director Gregory Doran appeared, explaining that the actor had "popped his knee."
But a few minutes later Lockyer was back, to a chorus of applause, and the show went on with him first using a stick and later limping.
This is an excellent night out. Writer Stephen Jeffreys has cut out almost a fifth of the play, nearly 4,000 words, to make it relevant to modern audiences and Findlay works her own magic with modern music and some terrific special effects, including the biggest explosion I've heard on stage for years.
Lockyer and Nwosu are perfect as the pair of conmen, fleecing the gullible of London while their master is away, assisted by Siobhan McSweeney as Dol Common, a rollicking tart with no heart.
But the stage is well and truly stolen by Ian Redford as the greedy, randy knight, Sir Epicure Mammon, popping a Viagra while delivering a frenetic speech on the joys of gluttony, dolphin's milk and all.
The Alchemist is at Stratford until August 6.
