The Alchemist by Ben JonsonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Despite Jonson’s interest in seeing this play printed and read, it still belongs best on the stage, where the rapid-fire back and forth and madcap pace is more evident. The plot starts fast and gets faster, as the various gulls first get introduced and then pile up on each other, with the con men having to think of ever more extravagant tricks to separate them from their money. Quite a bit of it is pretty turgid on the page. The jokes need great performances to bring them alive.
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