←Recommendations of The Alchemist's Gambit

Who doesn’t love a good mad scientist farce? Well, I bet you wouldn’t if you were an erstwhile alchemist/traveller abducted during your journeys and bound to a table to have your brain bisected by the deranged Dr. Hossenpfeffer. Luckily neither you nor I are in such a quandary , so we can all enjoy this short, comedic Sam Heyman two-hander and laugh to our hearts content as we watch The Traveler attempt through wit and wile to escape their dastardly predicament. Such great fun.

"Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," A friendship the Traveler may not be entering entirely voluntarily. Their journey with Dr. Hasenpfeffer is one of unbridled lunacy. Laughs spring cleverly from the setting, the characters, and the deliciously funny dialogue. This is a riotous farce from beginning to end.

I love the homage to the Mel Brooks style of madcap humor reminiscent of “Young Frankenstein” that Sam Heyman creates while also being wonderfully original in his construction. I didn’t expect the ending, but it works perfectly. I also enjoyed an audio version of the play on the Theatrical Shenanigans podcast. Inspired lunacy!

Save the endangered alchemists!
With it's cartoon-like mad scientist and his subject- a man who'd prefer not to have his brain picked, this Frankensteiny farce is perfect for a dark and stormy night.

Heyman writes a fun and fresh take on this laugh-out-loud farce. I really liked the world-building and how these characters were woven into the story and the world itself. This short play would be an excellent opportunity for actors, directors, and designers to take Heyman's work and embark on a hilarious journey for audiences to savor!

Look, vaguely European mad scientists are just misunderstood, okay? They have a lot of feelings.

Heyman sends up the mad doctor trope with hilarity and whimsy, pitting the former against an alchemist with wit aplomb. This world would be so much fun for actors, designers, and audiences alike, and would truly be a delightful addition to any short play festival. A fantastic exchange of words (and captivity?) that's worth your attention.

I love the vague accents and the brandishing of the handsaw! This is a very silly ode to marriage which is the heart of the comic impulse. It will be hilarious to see performed!

What do you do when you fall into the hands of a mad scientist and you're firmly bound to his operating table? Any gambit you can think of. Will our traveler talk his way to his freedom, or is he fated to have his brain dissected, er, bisected? You must wait to the end to find out. A hilarious send-up of a familiar horror-movie situation that asks the eternal question, do even mad scientists have ethics? It'd be equally enjoyable for audience and actors alike.

Take one mad scientist, one alchemist traveller, a dark and stormy night in a castle, and you have hilarious perfection! Lots of fun to be had with characterisation, set and lights, in all this is a lot of silly, clever fun! Mwha ha ha!

Absolutely hilarious send up of mad scientist horror films! The lighting and sound designers would have a blast with this! Not to mention the actors! I was laughing out loud throughout, even like a mad scientist!