A Mad World My Masters

Thomas Middleton's outrageous "city comedy," a brilliantly plotted, farcical satire, is translated from Jacobean London to 1950's Soho.

Thomas Middleton's Jacobean comedy updated to hilarious effect and transplanted into 1960s Soho. Edited by Sean Foley and Phil Porter.Thomas Middleton’s outrageous ‘city comedy’: a brilliantly plotted, farcical satire of lies and lust, translated from Jacobean London to the Soho of the 1950s. A dashingly impecunious bachelor, Dick Follywit, in need of quick cash and a good time has to live on his wits so turns con-man to fool his rich uncle. He variously becomes a Lord, a high-class call girl and a poor actor. Meanwhile, Truly Kidman, a high-class call girl – poor but quick-witted – needs to fool and then marry a rich young man… Sean Foley and Phil Porter’s edited version of Middleton’s play is faithful to the original text but adapts it to fit the seedy world of 1950s Soho, updating character names and including songs of the time to enhance the biting satire of lust and deception in the life of Bohemian London.