From the blackfriars theatre in london, andrew marr. The duchess of malfi is a tragic, macabre play written by john webster in 1612. About the play the duchess of malfi royal shakespeare company. View description figure 1 title page of the 1623 quarto version of the duchess of malfi. Written after william shakespeare had completed his final play, the duchess of malfi is regarded as the last great elizabethan tragedy. John webster, the duchess of malfi open university. Early in the duchess of malfi, antonio bologna, the duchesss steward, and later, husband, praises her as one who stains the time past, lights the time to come. With esme percy, catherine lacey, john laurie, stephen haggard.
Hotel by mike figgis involves a film crew trying to make a dogme film of the duchess of malfi. Her steward, antonio, has just returned from a visit to the french court, and bosola, a murderer and former employee of her. The duchess is a young widow whose two brothers, ferdinand and the cardinal, are visiting her from rome at the plays start. Monica film center santa monica monica film center santa monica. The duchess of malfi characters from litcharts the. Duchess of malfi online text with notes larry avis brown. Happily, it seems seasoned tragedian, writer and director zinnie harris has a keen eye for the elements of the text that give it its enduring power and has expertly brought these to the fore in her innovative adaptation the duchess of malfi. Antonio is the duchess s secret hubbycumbabydaddy, doomed both by social stigma and the. Explore our previous productions of websters the duchess of malfi from 1960 2000. Start studying the duchess of malfi settingslocations.
The set is wonderfulsmall but able to bring out all the subtleties of the text. The duchess of malfi royal lyceum theatre edinburgh. The film received the academy award for best costume design at the 81st ceremony in 2009. It was first performed privately at the blackfriars theatre, then later to a larger audience at the globe, in 161614 published in 1623, the play is loosely based on events that occurred between 1508 and 15.
This opinion is so widely held that the play has become a standard selection in all of the drama anthologies of the period. The representation of love in the duchess of malfi begins in earnest with the duchesss courtship of and marriage to her steward antonio. Our girl the duchess, though, is almost unique in that, having been widowed by her first husband and not having had any children by him theres one mention of a son by husband numero unothe former duke of malfibut were pretty sure that thats a mistake she not only gets to more or less control her own life but shes also inherited the. Websters play is a tragedy about a forbidden love, more. Filmed as live stage production of websters jacobean tragedy. Delio and bologna discuss the cardinal, ferdinand, and the duchess. Websters verse is very irregular and not always easy to recognize. Jan 15, 2014 it helps, of course, that the opening play is websters the duchess of malfi which is a tragedy shrouded in darkness. Tickets for many performances of the duchess of malfi are now limited or sold out. The duchess of malfi is a popular choice as a set text, despite or perhaps because of the violence and horror of its later scenes. Fr voir the duchess film complet streaming vf vostfr. When the widowed duchess helen mirren marries her steward antonio, the choice challenges the accepted social order and established lines of power.
John websters jacobean revenge tragedy the duchess of malfi is extraordinary in a number of respects. Genres drama, performance directors dominic dromgoole cast includes gemma arterton, archie bradfield, giles cooper, david dawson, james garnon, sean gilder. This webtext does not attempt to make these fine distinctions. Duchess of malfi british board of film classification. Aislin mcguckin is the duchess and tim treloar is bosola. The duchess of malfi in a new version by zinnie harris after john webster a royal lyceum theatre edinburgh and citizens theatre coproduction. The duchess of malfi globe player shakespeares globe. About the play the duchess of malfi royal shakespeare. The duchess of malfi, fiveact tragedy by english dramatist john webster, performed 1614 and published in 1623 written after william shakespeare had completed his final play, the duchess of malfi is regarded as the last great elizabethan tragedy. Websters the duchess of malfi is the most thrilling and chilling of the jacobean revenge tragedies an exploration of male rage and female resistance as two brothers try and control their sister, block her marriage and repress her agency with fatal results. The duchess of malfi film the duchess of malfi 25 may 2014.
It begins in the palace of the duchess, a young widow and the ruler of the italian town of amalfi. It was first performed privately at the blackfriars theatre, then later to a larger audience at the globe, in 161614. Its a popular play, but its also a nearhorror nasty, the story of a decent woman whose dreams are. Newhall under construction newhall under construction. The duchess of malfi takes place in roman catholic italy, which english audiences at the time when the play was written would have associated with corruption. Her steward, antonio, has just returned from a visit to the french court, and bosola, a. The duchess of malfi summary from litcharts the creators of. Told through the eyes of the spy, bosola, we follow his struggles to conspire against the duchess and antonio, two starcrossed lovers forced into exile. Duchess of malfi, and consider some possible reasons for the plays continued prominence in the twentyfirstcentury theatre repertoire. When their spy, bosola, discovers that the duchess has secretly married. The duchess of malfi was published in 1623, but the date of writing may have been as early as 1611. The duchess of malfi takes place in italy, mostly at the duchesss palace in malfi, in the sixteenth century. The duchess of malfi is a jacobean revenge tragedy written by english dramatist john webster.
Im a university professor in nashville, tennessee teaching courses in world literature, theater, film, and bible. Duchess of malfi is a tale of irrepressible romance and poetic tragedy. With peter bankole, richard bremmer, mark hadfield, maxwell hutcheon. Malcontent, superspy, social critic, avenger no, sadly, not that kind. Feature trailer the duchess of malfi royal shakespeare. Figure 1 title page of the 1623 quarto version of the duchess of malfi. So he proved to be, and we are the happier for it watching this production of the duchess of malfi.
These pages are dedicated to one of the greatest achievements of english renaissance drama, john websters the duchess of malfi. Its a popular play, but its also a nearhorror nasty, the story of a decent woman whose dreams are bloodily squished by the selfish and perverse. Gemma arterton returned to the globe to play the title role of the duchess. Cariola asks bologna to attend the duchess in half an hour. Bosola brings light and the duchess sees bologna and her son are dead. First performed by shakespeares company, the kings men, it displays the jacobean theatre tradition of stage. Playing at the almeida theatre, london from december 2019. When the widowed duchess helen mirren marries her steward antonio, the choice challenges the.
Lit entirely by candlelight, the production evokes a murky. The widowed duchess of malfi longs to marry her lover, the steward antonio. The duchess of malfi does indeed have plenty of blood, but this is nothing unusual in renaissance tragedies. Duchess is a favourite of mine, and i was sorry to miss the greenwich theatre production earlier this year.
But her rancorous brothers, ferdinand and the cardinal, are implacably opposed to the match. This is also a major dramatic climax, the event which drives the action of the rest of the play. In any case, it portrays with a terrible vividness one side of the court. Play by john webster in hindi summary explanation and full analysis duration. The duchess, a young widow and the ruler of the italian town of amalfi, is the intelligent, kind, virtuous sister of the cardinal and the twin of duke ferdinand. Generally considered to be the masterpiece of jacobean playwright john webster, it was first produced in around 16. The duchess of malfi is one of the great jacobean plays, written by john webster in 1612, the tragedy of a powerful family rent by lust and betrayal. Recording of a production of john websters the duchess of malfi performed at greenwich theatre in london during marchapril 2010. In malfi, italy, antonio the widowed duchesss steward and his friend delio observe the goingson at court. The duchess is a 2008 british drama film directed by saul dibb.
To come across a production of duchess of malfi is fortunate. Set in 14thcentury italy, this story is a poignant retelling of an enduring parable of hypocrisy, ambition, and love based on the real life of a beautiful italian duchess, giovanna daragona. I sing at parties, i wear colourful dresses, i am headstrong, i wont wear my hair up because you say i should, or do this because you prefer it, in fact i might do the other just. It is based on amanda foremans biography of the late 18thcentury english aristocrat georgiana cavendish, duchess of devonshire. Before leaving the duchess, ferdinand engages bosola, previously used. Sam wanamaker playhouse, london gemma arterton brings beauty, determination and moral goodness to one. The duchess of malfi, fiveact tragedy by english dramatist john webster, performed 1614 and published in 1623. For most fans of jacobean drama, john websters the duchess of malfi 16 is the most powerful tragedy of that period not written by a man named shakespeare. Professionally recorded on high definition video using multiple cameras, the production was designed to capture the look and feel of a live performance. When their spy, bosola, discovers that the duchess has secretly married and carries antonios child, they exact a terrible and horrific revenge.
The duchess of malfi summary from litcharts the creators. The duchess of malfi was first performed in 16 or 1614 by the kings men, the acting company to which shakespeare belonged. With irene worth, william devlin, david kingwood, david markham. From the blackfriars theatre in london, andrew marr presents a unique television premiere a new production of john websters bloody revenge tragedy the duchess of malfi performed in a perfect recreation of an early jacobean theatre. Sian williams did the choreography, those wonderful little jigs that we are learning were an integral part of elizabethan stage practice. The duchess is the central, tragic figure in this bleak and disturbing play, illuminating its dark world of murder, intrigue, and horror film props. In an attempt to prevent the fiercely independent duchess from marrying the man she loves, her corrupt brothers go on a disturbing quest to destroy her.
The duchess speaks in 2018, maria aberg doctor faustus, the white devil returned to the rsc to direct john websters gory tale in her own distinct style. It was released in september 2008 in the united kingdom. Filmed in a beautiful 17th century mansion, john websters brooding tragedy is a typical jacobean melodrama. Ferdinand arrives, gifting antonio bologna with a jewel, and talking with the courtiers. Bosola, a former soldier, has recently been freed after seven years in prison for killing at the command of the duchesss elder brother, the cardinal. Antonio is the duchesss secret hubbycumbabydaddy, doomed both by social stigma and the. The duchess of malfi settingslocations flashcards quizlet. Step in to the rehearsal room with photos from the duchess of malfi, directed by maria aberg with joan iyiola in the title role. The duchess of malfi film the duchess of malfi 28 january 2012. Her brothers have prohibited her read full character analysis duke ferdinand is the brother of. The duchess of malfi originally published as the tragedy of the dutchesse of malfy is a jacobean revenge tragedy written by english dramatist john webster in 161216. Probably the most important thing to know about the.
A television version of the shakespeares globe theatre revival of john websters jacobean tragedy, directed by dominic. It is based on a story in painters palace of pleasure, translated from the italian novelist, bandello. First performed by shakespeares company, the kings men, it. This opinion is so widely held that the play has become a standard selection. When their spy, bosola, discovers that the duchess has secretly married and carries antonios child, they exact a terrible and horrific. With gemma arterton, archie bradfield, giles cooper, david dawson. A bigger test may come when the theatre has to house a robust comedy like. It helps, of course, that the opening play is websters the duchess of malfi which is a tragedy shrouded in darkness. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Almeida associate director rebecca frecknall follows her olivier awardwinning production of summer and smoke and three sisters with the duchess of malfi, john websters electrifying revenge tragedy about rage, resistance and a deadly lust for power.
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