The Duchess (of Malfi)
07 November 2024
Trafalgar Theatre
5.0 out of 5.0 stars
The Duchess (of Malfi), currently running at the Trafalgar Theatre until 20 December, is a contemporary staging of the 1612 revenge tragedy play, loosely based on a true story from a century prior. This new staging takes on the play with a more modern eye, really highlighting how the lives of women are often still determined by the actions of the men around them.
Visually, the production is stripped back, a white room with a white metal walkway, white curtains, white (very sparsely used) furniture, and most characters dressed in mellow, earthy tones. With the exception of the Duchess, who starts out in a bright red dress in stark contrast to everything and everyone else on stage. This staging is incredibly dynamic and fresh, with a modernised script that really packs a punch.
The violence and tension are fully indulged, visually confronting and accompanied by an aggressively harsh soundscape at just the right times. As the plot intensifies throughout, the lights become harsher, the shadows becomes sharper, the sounds louder, the colours more washed out and bleaker. The stripped back aesthetic is boiled down to what is necessary to retain emotional impact without overwhelming the audience, putting the focus squarely on the cast, which has been exquisitely selected for this play.
Jodie Whittaker stuns as a defiant, playful, passionate Duchess, dominating the stage with her presence, while Joel Fry is the perfect counterpart as the charming but awkward Antonio, utilising nuanced physicality and whit to round out a crucial character. Matti Houghton is a powerhouse as Cariola, while Rory Fleck Byrne’s Ferdinand is so deliciously evil from the first scene and perfectly deteriorates into madness as the play moves along. It’s been a while since I have seen such a solid cast put on this impressive a performance.
The Duchess is visceral and profoundly tragic, with unexpected modern twists that serve the play incredibly well. Challenging, emotional, and shocking, this production is absolutely tremendous!
