'Ben Johnson's timeless satire.' Andrzej Lukowski, Time Out London, 02/09/10

The Alchemist is set during a plague epidemic in the Liberty of Blackfriars in 1610 - and was first performed on tour in 1610 by the company whose London home at Blackfriars was temporarily closed due to a plague epidemic. The play is a sublimely accomplished satirical farce about people's diverse dreams of self-refinement: they all want to transform themselves into something nobler, richer, more powerful, more virile, just as base metal was supposed to be transformed into gold in the alchemical process. During their master's absence from the house, the con-artists Face, Subtle and Doll Common dupe a series of 'customers' whose greed leads them to believe in the existence of the fabled Philosopher's Stone. As their equipment boils over and blows up in the offstage kitchen, so their plot heats up and is exploded by the sceptical Surly and the arrival of their master - who quietly pockets their proceeds and marries the rich widow to boot. The lively introduction focuses on the play as a comedy about swindlers and characters on the margins of society. It highlights Jonson's cratft as a dramatist and his masterful use of language, building into the play all actors and directors need to know about its characters and action. With helpful on-page commentary notes, this student edition also discusses the play in its theatrical and historical context and traces its connections to modern theatre, bringing its farcical comedy vividly to life.
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The play script of Jonson's satirical farce, including an extensive introduction, with biographical notes and information about the staging of the play, as well as detailed notes beneath the text on each page.
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A new introduction brings this best-selling text up-to-date Much studied at A Level and undergraduate level On-page commentary notes provide a wealth of useful information
A new introduction brings this best-selling text up-to-date

New Mermaids is a series of classic plays from the 16th to the 20th century which are presented in modernised English with on the page notes.

Teachers present editions of these plays that are perfect for students and encourage creative engagement with the text. Introductions include the latest research and critical interpretations to situate each play within contemporary culture. Editors explore the play’s language and plot through gender, sexuality, race, religion, identity, material culture and performance.

New Mermaids are printed in a clear, easy-to-use format, with notes below the text. New editions speak to students, theatre goers and actors who want to engage with classic plays as they are taught and performed across the world today.

General Editors

José A. Pérez Díez, Lecturer in Early Modern Drama, School of English, University of Leeds, UK.
Iman Sheeha, Senior Lecturer in English, Brunel University, UK.

Editorial Board

Brandi Adams, Assistant Professor, English Department, Arizona State University, USA
Francis X. Connor, Chair and Associate Professor, Department of English, Wichita State University, USA
Beth Rebecca Cortese, Assistant Professor, University of Iceland, Iceland
Ambereen Dadabhoy, Associate Professor of Literature, Harvey Mudd College, USA
Nandini Das, Professor of Early Modern English Literature and Culture, University of Oxford, UK
Tracy C. Davis, Barber Professor of Performing Arts, Northwestern University, USA
Brett Greatley-Hirsch, Professor of Renaissance Literature and Textual Studies, University of Leeds, UK
Hetta Howes, Senior Lecturer in Medieval and Early Modern Literature, City University, UK
Hassana Moosa is a Lecturer in English Literature at the University of Cape Town, South Africa
Eoin Price, Lecturer in English Literature, 1500-1650, University of Edinburgh, UK
Eleanor Rycroft, Senior Lecturer, Department of Theatre, University of Bristol, UK

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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9781408110201
Publisert
2010-08-17
Utgiver
Vendor
Methuen Drama
Vekt
192 gr
Høyde
196 mm
Bredde
128 mm
Dybde
14 mm
Aldersnivå
G, 01
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
224

Redaktør
Forfatter

Om bidragsyterne

The editor, Elizabeth Cook, is the author of the fiction Achilles (Methuen), editor of Dekker and Middleton's The Roaring Girl for the New Mermaids and of the Oxford Authors' John Keats. She has lectured at the universities of Essex and Leeds and now works freelance.