Greed, Sex, Lust, Gambling, Prostitution and Flim-flam; the themes of Ben Jonson’s popular comedy ring out as commonly today as they did to the audiences of Shakespeare’s time. As April weather heats up, so does the stage at Richard Garriott’s Curtain Theater beautiful Lake Austin, as The Baron’s Men perform Jonson’s famous play, “The Alchemist” with all of its original bawdy and gritty action and dialogue.

Ben Jonson was one of the most popular and controversial playwrights of 17th century England. A man once charged with manslaughter as well as “Leude and mutynous behavior” and sedition. Jonson narrowly dodged the gallows and spent a brief amount of time in jail; two feats that qualified his writing of this proto-farce that covers the seedy doings of three ne’er-do-wells claiming secret knowledge of Alchemy- the ability to change any metal into purest gold. Considered one of Jonson’s best plays both by his contemporaries and by modern scholars, “The Alchemist” is the stage equivalent and inspiration for many of our treasured modern ‘con’ films such as Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Sting, Paper Moon, Matchstick Men, The Grifters, and The Spanish Prisoner.

Cast

• Subtle Todd Kassens
• Face Heath Thompson
• Dol Common Bridget Farias
• Kastril Eva McQuade
• Dame Pliant Sarah Lee
• Lovewit Harry Conner
• Dapper Ben McLemore
• Abel Drugger Joshua Moretto
• Sir Epicure Mammon Michael O’Keefe
• Pertinax Surly Katy Thompson
• Tribulation Wholesome Jimmie Bragdon
• Ananias Chris Casey
• Neighbors - Liegh Hegedus, Randy Egan, Gene Storie, Mike Osborn, Julio Mella
• Dancers - Lindsay M. Palinsky, Christina Peppas, Hanna Haide, Celeste Sharpe, Bradley Wright
• The Nimble Marmosets - Cindy Schaufenbuel, David Shankle, Sandy Straubhaar, Cherie Weed, Michael Mendoza 

Crew

• Director Casey Weed
• Producer Laura Trezise
• Assistant Producer Brian Martin
• Stage Manager Hallie Casey
• Dramaturge Robert Stevens
• Costume Designer Cherie Weed
• Mistress of House Katrina Anderson
• Master of Flim-Flammery Edward Boswell
• Master of Shenanigans Chris Walden
• Lighting Designer Eric Johnson
• Master of Pyrotechnics Jimmie Bragdon
• Mistress of Properties Joanna Casey
• Music Consultants John Pointer & Lester Chiu