Evening star., 1952-11-01

Samples of Ben JonSon'S robust
comedy have been scarce around
here of late. Their absence has
contributed nightly to the intel
lectual pallor of the community
but this is corrected as Of last
night.
The correction is affected by
Catholic University theater's pro-
duction of 1.-The Alchemist." a
roistering 340-year -old farce which
reveals that Jonson knew about
as much of human nature as any
playwright has shown since 1912
AID. He lays out for the Uni
versity's Players as merry COL
lection Of rogues and tattered
doves as drama lovers have seen
In centuries.
Under Leo Brady's direction.
they are played in this production
of "The Alchemist" is the rough
house spirit that Jonson clearly
intended. The effect Of this is to
give the University Theater an
opening unequalled since Bobby
Clark gave the classics that un-
forgettable fling.
Jonson. a playwright who defled
any one to overact one Of his
characters, finds himself enthusi-
astically challenged in this cal
chemist" His margin of victory
IS so small that every one should
make point to see it for himself.
X X X
The dramas most solemn schol-
ars. who have been known to f1ub
q Judgment here and there, are
right in their verdict that "The
Alchemist" is the perfect comedy.
It's plot is timeless and if its
style is family archaic, it never
theless is appropriate.
The human weaknesses at which
JonSon let fly in this play are the
lust of men for gold and the hun
ger gallant word) of women for
both men and gold. The situa-
ton he has contrived to make his
sardonically uproarious case is vir-
tually indescribable in detail. In
broad outline, however, it con-
Germs three inspired fakes who
commander a fashionable Lon
don house and set up to sell the
formula for transmitting base
metals into gold.
This is their big deal but they
are prepared to cheat with equal
enthusiasm in marriage matches,
matches not so extreme, and even
such trivia as how to build a sue
cessful tobacco shop. There is no
limit to the magic they are pre-
pared to fake and they are quite
as skillful in cheating one another
as they are their most innocent
customer
A playwright of such appalling
invention as Jonson might over
whelm the average director and
cast. Happily this is not the case
with Brady and his associates at
Catholic University. They are un-
awed by dialogue that is meaning
full even when it becomes the
sheerest doubletalk and they are
energized adequately to meet the
demands of the plays maddest
movement.
Although there are no small
parts in "The Alchemist." it has
three conspicuously large ones.
These have been memorably cast.
From Vassar, of all schools, has
come a loud. durable girl named
Frances Sternhagen to play Doll
Common. Subtle, her alchemist
husband, a man Of volcanic moods
and amazing rascality; is COM
edy gem in the hands Of Otto
Kvapil. Face, the resourceful but
Ter and one of the great fakes of
literature. is brilliantly assigned to
Dick Sykes, a kind of Edwin Booth
in the c. U. repertory company.
Only the registrar. if he, knows
how many times Sykes has come
to the rescue of University The
ater plays in need of a superb
actor.
Others who scorn to wilt under
the force, farce and fury of "The
Alchemist" include William Cain,
Joseph Plummer. Terrence Spen-
Ger, John Toland. Dixie Jan
Greene and Tino Bellanca.
James Waring has come up with
a fine 18th century London house
for THE Alchemist" and Joseph
Lewis has done a corking Job with