Volpone (2007)
by Ben Jonson
Directed by Dave Hollander
Assistant director: Mark Davies
Performances: Tue 5th – Sat 9th June 2007, Bell Theatre
Contents
Introduction
V O L P O N E, childless, rich, feigns sick, despairs,
Offers his state to hopes of several heirs,
Lies languishing: his parasite receives
Presents of all, assures, deludes; then weaves
Other cross plots, which ope themselves, are told.
New tricks for safety are sought; they thrive: when bold,
Each tempts the other again, and all are sold.
Wealthy and childless, Volpone devises a scam to amass an even greater fortune with the aid of his 'parasite', Mosca. As he pretends to lie dying, a succession of avaricious would-be heirs (Voltore, Corbaccio and Corvino) is led in to his bed-chamber, each eager to inherit the whole lot.
Volpone gleefully takes to Venice's squares and canals to mock their victims, disguised as a mountebank (quack doctor), and falls in lust with the beautiful Celia, jealous Corvino's wife.
Meanwhile, blundering English tourist, Sir Politic-Would-Be is busy showing off his 'knowledge' of Venetian culture to his hapless protégé, as his overbearing wife takes fashion tips from the local courtesans. Needless to say, the grand Lady Would-Be is keen to impart some of her new-found education on ailing Volpone as she ministers to him.
Mosca entices each of the putative heirs to give up his most prized possession in hope of becoming Volpone's sole heir, and begins to bargain with Volpone for a better share of the wealth.
As each character's greed gets the better of him, only one question remains: who will escape unscathed as the plot unravels before their eyes?
Cast
- VOLPONE, a Magnifico - Michael Wilson
- MOSCA, his Parasite - Alex Kapila
- VOLTORE, an Advocate - Helen Judge
- CORBACCIO, an old Gentleman - Matthew Lyne
- CORVINO, a Merchant - Nick Mansley
- CELIA, Corvino's Wife - Stephanie Egbe
- BONARIO, son to Corbaccio - Damien Gilchrist
- SIR POLITIC WOULD-BE, an English Knight - Richard Watkins
- LADY WOULD-BE, Sir Politic's Wife - Carole Coyne
- PEREGRINE, a Traveller - Charlotte Vaight
- MERCATORE, Merchant - Ben Amunwa
- AVOCATORI 1, a judge - Richard Watkins
- AVOCATORI 2, a judge - Angela Barnes
- NOTARIO, the Clerk of the Court - Ben Amunwa
Crew
- Stage Management - Rachael Lovegrove and Lee Ridgeway
- Lighting Design - Christian Murphy
- Set construction - Dave Hollander, Michael Wilson and Matthew Lyne
- Costumes - Kristy Davis
Reviews
Gallery
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Reminiscences and Anecdotes
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