Melbourne Festival 1995
The Duchess of Malfi written by John Webster
By,Cheek by Jowl Athenaeum I until Nov 1995
Reviewed by Kate Herbert on 8 November 1995 for The Melbourne Times
If there is one element which singularly applies to a Jacobean Revenge Tragedy (the period after Lizzy 1), it is palpable vengeance. It may be bloody, conspiratorial or seductive, but it is pervasive and intrinsic to the plot and performance.
The Duchess of Malfi, by the renowned Cheek by Jowl, has some extraordinary theatrical moments, integrates Latin hymns and takes enormous risks with silence. However, it seems to falter intermittently as it takes a running jump, hiccups then has to build the dynamic all over again. The Italianate passion which inspired these plays full of betrayal, corruption, hypocrisy and violence, is diluted. If some of the cast were not Irish, I'd rudely suggest it suffered from English restraint.
This is not to deny that there is some fine direction with a number of exceptional performances. Anastasia Hille was riveting as the Duchess driven by love, confusion and secrecy. As her hypocritical, poisonous brother, the Cardinal, Paul Brennan is seductive and terrifying.
Kate Herbert
No comments:
Post a Comment