Director: Nik Hedges
Set design: Nik Hedges
Lighting: Philip Hogarth
Sound: Jonathan Blacknell
Production photos: Grace Eden Photography
What, in a few paragraphs, is John Webster’s dangerous and dark play about? On a former production by the RSC they boiled it down to: A defiant woman is destroyed by her corrupt brothers in this violent revenge tragedy, [allegedly] full of dark humour. In an attempt to prevent the fiercely independent Duchess from marrying the man she loves, her corrupt brothers go on a disturbing quest to kill her. Webster’s play is remarkable for its inventive and grotesque violence. So far not so cheery.
John Webster (c. 1580 – c. 1634 ) was the last of the great Elizabethan playwrights and The Duchess of Malfi (c.1614) enjoyed success at the indoor Blackfriars Theatre and later at The Globe Theatre. It is loosely based on the life of the Duchess of Amalfi, Giovanna d’Aragona. The play is considered to be the finest of all Jacobean tragedies. So far so historical.
The Lace Market Theatre production runs at the venue until Saturday 23rd May. Director Nik Hedges has given the piece an Industrial Revolution Steampunk feel in the costumes. As well as some very strong acting from the principals and multi-role playing ensemble what really gives this production some stonking theatrical welly is the top class lighting and sound including a continuous low level music soundtrack giving the piece an extra level of playing. Equally effective are the blood soaked drapes and the use of silhouettes, terrifyingly grotesque masks of the executioners and the haunting shadows.
The hard working and committed (some of them should be) ensemble play everything from mad people to soldiers, executioners, old women, doctors and pilgrims. Their work could be seen as the human scaffolding to the storyline. So far so multi-talented.
The play hits upon four equally omnipresent themes: Those are corruption and power, gender and agency, death and mortality, revenge and justice. These are subtly woven into the fabric of the play creating distinct patterns and revealing some admirable casting choices by The Lace Market Theatre where the main characters need to be strong enough actors to bring thematic light and shade into their dialogues and monologues taking us, sometimes unwillingly, on their tragic journey. I would caution that it is a long play lasting three hours including interval.
Personally I find the listening attention needed to navigate the production’s old English text for such a prolonged period of time a real challenge even though the text is spoken with clarity, meaning and at an acceptable volume by all on stage. If you are as unfamiliar with the storyline as I confess to be, drifting off and literally losing the convoluted plot is a big possibility. I find myself on more than one occasion not knowing why the characters are getting cross, being mean and threatening murder in florid poetic language that goes over my head in most cases. The Duchess seems a nice young lady. Why are they all being bastards to her? Answers on a piece of post parchment please.
On the plus side there is some excellent acting work achieved by the principals offering some dynamic moments of conflict : The ‘Malfi’ principals are Mollie Kneeshaw (Duchess), David Field (Ferdinand), Chris Sims (Cardinal), Paul Spruce (Bosola), Tom Pluse Antonio), Michelle Smith (Delia), Kathryn Edwards (Julia), and Fiona Bumann (Cariola). Richard Young, Lucie Conroy, Jake Black, Emma Rather and Joe Moore offer solid support.
Note: The play is already happening as you initially take your seats. The cast are all in white and mostly silently setting the atmospheres by depicting a scene in a home for the seriously mentally ill. If you go and see this production don’t be like two young men close to me who chose to continue to talk to each other quite loudly. The lights may not have dimmed but be respectful to the performers.
“Some fellows, they say, are possessed with the devil, but this great fellow were able to possess the greatest devil and make him worse.” John Webster. The Duchess of Malfi.
