Babes with Blades Theatre Company presents THE DUCHESS OF MALFI.
The Duchess of Malfi is looking for love. Her brothers, the cardinal and the earl, want her to embrace her widowhood. She defies them by falling for her steward. Despite conventional mores, court gossip and family interference, the Duchess solidifies her relationship with a secret marriage. Her happily ever-after is quickly under attack as her brothers strive to silence her love.
Director Hayley Rice dusts off John Webster’s 1600s Jacobean revenge tragedy. Rice cleverly takes a play focused on gender inequality and casts it with gender fluidity. Traditional roles and relationships receive a contemporary makeover. Most notably, the Duchess’ lover, Antonio is played by Clara Byczkowski and the brother’s spy Bosola is played by Maureen Yasko. Byczkowski and Carrie Hardin’s (Duchess) taboo marriage heightens the total disregard to the patriarchy. And a fierce Yasko, in traditional male garb with long purple hair, is in all ways a non gender-specific badass. Nod out to Designer Jennifer Mohr for costumes combining regal with hints of rebellion.
Webster’s script is heavy on the speeches and Rice’s ensemble works to deliver them with authenticity. Hazel Munson (Delio) plays it cheeky as she provides guidance to Antonio and context to the audience. Shane Richlen shows impressive range as he goes from sophisticated cruelty to deranged psycho. Alongside Webster’s all-ready wordy dialogue, Rice stages this with several minor set changes adding length without depth to the experience. The speed bump is especially odd for a theatre company focused on action.
And don’t worry there are violent skirmishes! The blades come out big time in the last thirty minutes of the play. Fight Choreographer Maya Vince Prentiss stages layers of revenge as a bloody mess. Prentiss’ best and worst show of savagery is between Yasko and Hardin. Best because it’s so uncomfortably real. And worst because it’s so uncomfortable real. The imagery is marring.
SIDENOTE: Although the running time is listed as two hours and ten minutes, my performance was two hours and thirty minutes with masks required. In the afterglow of the pandemic and a return to masks, tightening up shows is key to the comfort and enjoyment of the theatre goers.
Running Time: Two hours and thirty minutes includes an intermission
At Factory Theatre, 1623 W. Howard Street
Written by John Webster
Directed by Hayley Rice
Fight direction by Maya Venice Prentiss
Performances are:
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8pm
Sundays at 3pm
Thru October 21st
For more information or tickets
Production photos by Joe Mazza/brave lux
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