Daniel Flint as Edward Kelley
No one really talks much about alchemy anymore and that’s a shame. The absolutely physically impossible science tinged with a mystical/magical belief system is a welcome respite from modern reality. I suppose J.K. Rowling touched on it with The Philosopher’s Stone and what is the relentless Vampire Phenomena but another twist on the quest for immortality?
Taffety Punk Theatre Company’s latest effort, Burn Your Bookes by local playwright Richard Byrne, is currently running at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW). The play is based upon the life of renowned, perhaps infamous, English alchemist Edward Kelley and his life in Prague. Mr. Kelley served as scrier, basically a fortune teller, to John Dees. The two worked together attempting to spin gold and other mystical/ludicrous activities which were highly regarded (and could be well subsidized) during the time. The two enjoyed success for a while, Kelley even convinced Dee to engage in a little Renaissance wife swapping, only to part ways with Kelley being promoted to knighthood and Dees leaving town.
Burn Your Bookes is really a triptych of three one-act plays, the thru-line being Kelley and the consequences of his actions. It seems as if the playwright is trying to redeem Kelley a bit, as history has not been kind to him, suggesting that maybe he really was magical and gifted. Director Marcus Kyd weaves the pieces together with a light touch. The actors are all well cast and give strong performances.
Kimberly Gilbert as Westonia
My favorite of the three one-acts was the final one which focuses on Kelley’s step-daughter Westonia, a poet attempting to restore her step-father’s name (and her family’s fortune) through her poetry. Actress and company member Kim Gilbert plays Westonia and she brings the show to life with her clarity and light comedic timing. As Kelley, Daniel Flint is tormented and mysterious, although call me a skeptic but I never quite believed that Kelley was not pulling one over on everyone. I wanted to know how and why these folks were able to spend their days in such pursuits. I particularly enjoyed the contrast Flint made in his portrayal of the living Kelley with the Kelley seen in flashbacks in Westonia’s memories. The slightly stooped and devious character we saw in the earlier acts is replaced by a much sunnier fellow.
Taffety Punk, the company, was born out of the members’ Shakespearean training and their affinity for punk rock. The costumes, by Scott Hammar, wink at this heritage by imposing a vintage Misfits T-shirt onto the back of Kelley’s period style jacket. The women are gussied up in bodkins and combat boots, a style choice which pleased this aging Gen Xer to no end. Many of the actors sported a bleak almost Sweeney Todd look; pale skin, dark eyes and many had tattoo-like drawings and designs on their faces which gave a nod to both the mystical elements of the play as well as punk.
In Mr. Kyd’s words during his pre-show pitch, the company aims to “make awesome theatre that people can afford” and as such Taffety Punk strives to keep all their tickets at $10 a seats. This weekend is the last for the show so hop to it. Tickets can be found here.
If you do go let us know what you thought.
In a town full of high-priced cultural events, Taffety Punk’s $10-a-ticket approach is really nice to see. My husband and I went to see “Burn Your Bookes” on opening weekend. The playwright is a good friend of ours, so I’m not an objective critic, but we thought it was a great evening of theater. And close to home!