Volpone (Wednesday Theatre)

Volpone is a play by English playwright Ben Jonson. It is a comedy first produced in 1606, likely at the Globe Theatre by the King's Men. Its full title is Volpone, or The Fox.

The play is a satirical examination of greed, cunning, and deception, set in Venice. The plot revolves around Volpone, a wealthy, childless Venetian nobleman who pretends to be on his deathbed in order to swindle gifts from greedy would-be heirs. He is aided in his scheme by his servant, Mosca, a clever and unscrupulous parasite. A cast of avaricious characters—Voltore (the lawyer), Corbaccio (the old gentleman), and Corvino (the merchant)—compete to win Volpone's favor by offering him increasingly extravagant presents.

The Wednesday Theatre designation refers to a specific BBC television adaptation of Jonson's Volpone. "Wednesday Theatre" was an anthology series that ran on BBC1 in the 1960s and early 1970s. It featured a wide range of dramatic productions, including adaptations of classic plays, original dramas, and works by contemporary playwrights. The Volpone adaptation broadcast as part of this series is one of several notable television versions of the play. Details concerning specific actors, broadcast date, and other production specifics will depend on the particular Wednesday Theatre Volpone production in question.