The Pros of Con Men: 'The Alchemist'

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YOU REALLY CAN fool some of the people all of the time. At least that's the premise that drives the new-millennial spin on Ben Jonson's "The Alchemist" currently being performed by the Shakespeare Theatre Company at Lansburgh Theatre.

The farcical action centers on a butler — Face (Michael Milligan) — who enlists two ethically challenged, disguise-loving pals Subtle (Davis Manis) and Dol Common (Kate Skinner), to charm and cheat the neighbors out their money, women and silverware. To do this, the trio impersonate characters from a decorated army captain (Face) to a cymbal-clanging hippie healer (Subtle).

Jonson knew that sending up hypocrites, preferably in funny costumes, makes even rogues look like heroes. So, in a Georgetown-esque townhouse scene, Face, Subtle and Dol proceed to trick everyone from a Donald Trump-like moneyman, Sir Epicure Mammon, to a revival-meeting preacher straight out of Fox news called Tribulation Wholesome.

It's all silly, showy stuff, with lots of fake mustaches, fart jokes and bawdy bits about lady bits whizzing around. The costume changes lead to such inspired wardrobe pieces as what appears to be a solid-gold suit and a Glenda the Good Witch getup for the blowsy Dol, who convinces a gambler she's the queen of the fairies.

That this hysterical house of cards doesn't collapse around the crew seems unbelievable in this age of Bernie Madoff and Enron, but watching their schemes unfold — and fold back on themselves — proves so distracting, you'll likely be taken in by their tricks, too.

» Lansburgh Theatre, 450 7th St. NW; through Nov. 22, $36-$87; 202-547-1122, Shakespearetheatre.org (Gallery Place-Chinatown, Archives-Navy Mem'l).

Photo courtesy Scott Suchman