Reviewed by andrew cowie john websters the white devil must have a label on it somewhere in the royal shakespeare companys files saying, avoid this play, and if you must do it, make sure a woman. A true story of war, savagery and vengeance in colonial america. Jun 16, 2015 the amazing true story of the only white man to rise to the top of the chinese mafia. The white devil is a revenge tragedy by english playwright john webster c. Director maria aberg talks about setting her new production of websters the white devil in a luxury contemporary world, and highlighting a different kind of misogyny through casting a woman. The white devil feels like an experiment that didnt develop into a coherent idea and is. I wasnt too impressed with maria abergs production of websters the white devil at the rsc two years ago, and i went into this faustus expecting more of the same. Without giving too much away, an archeologist for hire cum civilian mercenary in africa witnesses a massacre of his coworkers and some soldiers by white devils bipeds that look like mutant albino chimps who are capable of organized hunting and handling weapons. Her book the shark cage won the 20 cinnamon press debut collection prize and is. I read it on the heels of atwoods the year of the flood, which provided an interesting context. Trying to survive by playing by mens rules director maria aberg talks about setting her new production of websters the white devil in a. The first few performances of doctor faustus were extremely dangerous because it was illegal to summon the devil and. The first few performances of doctor faustus were extremely dangerous because it was illegal to summon the devil. Or rather, that the white devil is the name of a play by john webster and it is relevantand mentionedin the book.
The amazing true story of the only white man to rise to the top of the chinese mafia. Visually, theres a vibrancy and freshness about this bloodthirsty, modern reworking of christopher marlowes doctor faustus by the rsc. Jan, 2016 the book spans many years, and i assume the movie would focus on a short period of time, the white devil period. The white devil royal shakespeare company the bardathon. Maria abergs last production for the rsc, the modern dress king john turned out to be critically controversial, but it persuaded me that king john was a better, more interesting play than i. Maria abergs last production for the rsc, the modern dress king john turned out to be critically controversial, but it persuaded me that king john was a better, more interesting play than i had previously thought. Rosie garland and jayne headonmeldrum on changing sexual identity. Maria aberg is an exceptionally talented director, and i loved many of her previous productions. Directed by maria aberg, the woman behind the rscs. Jan 01, 2011 or rather, that the white devil is the name of a play by john webster and it is relevantand mentionedin the book.
Kirsty bushell and david sturzaker played the doomed couple vittoria and duke. Whats impressive about maria abergs sharppaced moderndress revival for the rsc is that it not only gives every plot. He played bracciano, the lead in maria abergs the white devil at the rsc, and givola in jonathan churchs the resistable rise of arturo ui in the west end. Maria directed john websters violent tragedy, the white devil, in the swan theatre as part of our 2014 roaring girls season. Aug 22, 2014 lust, betrayal and a lot of blood in the white devil at the swan theatre. In august 20, bac guai john willis, also known as the white devil because of his notorious ferocity, was sentenced to 20 years for drug trafficking and money laundering. They begin an illicit affair, but their infidelity does not go unnoticed. Revived by the royal shakespeare company as part of its 2014 roaring girls season, in the swan theatre, stratforduponavon, directed by maria aberg back cover. About the play the duchess of malfi royal shakespeare.
With the life and death of vittoria corombona the famous venetian curtizan is a tragedy. Past productions maria aberg royal shakespeare company. Duke bracciano is besotted by the beautiful vittoria. The white devil begins on an odd notethe city of rome banishes lodovico, a depraved and murderous count, who will be important in the story later, just not. Maria aberg s production of the white devil does exactly that. Maria aberg, who in her previous shows at the rsc has shown herself unafraid to innovate, unsurprisingly embraced this in her new production of the white devil, beginning with. Actress liz crowther plays the mother of a young woman accused of adultery and murder in maria aberg s feminist take on.
Open white devil and enter the hell halloran has created with this. The season was produced by the royal shakespeare company and scheduled to run in stratforduponavon between march and september 2020. This production was part of projekt europa, a season of work celebrating european theatre and theatre practitioners. How a white kid from dorchester became a chinatown kingpin. According to websters own preface to the 1612 quarto edition, to the reader, the plays first performance in that year was a notorious failure. The white devil begins on an odd notethe city of rome banishes lodovico, a depraved and murderous count, who will be important in the story later, just not right now. It tells the story of the 1893 worlds columbian exposition in chicago from the. Director maria aberg is back at the rsc with a new version of john websters violent and misogynistic revenge tragedy the white. 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. Aug 07, 2014 maria aberg update of the webster play foregrounds its gender politics but ultimately loses as much as it gains, writes michael billington. Director maria aberg gives john websters study of corruption and misogyny a neonlit makeover. Maria aberg update of the webster play foregrounds its gender politics but ultimately loses as much as it gains, writes michael billington. The white devil feels like an experiment that didnt develop into a coherent idea and is less than the sum of its parts. Aug 08, 2014 lust, longing and murder in the white devil in stratforduponavon.
A true story of war, savagery and vengeance in colonial america brumwell, stephen on. Vittoria kristy bushell and brachiano david sturzaker with flamineo laura elphinstone watching in the background. I knew it was john webster, which meant the mysteries of life would. Woke up this morning still thinking about the thrilling white devil that i saw at the rsc last night. The white devil websters violent tragedy played in the swan theatre from july to november 2014, directed by maria aberg. Gatsby northern stage theatrical productions limited. Maria abergs feminist take on websters lurid play is undermined by anxious updating, writes susannah clapp. Lust, betrayal and a lot of blood in the white devil at. Murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed america crown publishers, isbn 0609608444 is a 2003 historical nonfiction book by erik larson presented in a novelistic style. Aug 09, 2014 maria aberg s production of the white devil does exactly that. Open white devil and enter the hell halloran has created with this incredible.
Full casting is announced for maria abergs production of websters violent tragedy the white devil, which continues the royal shakespeare companys roaring girls season in the swan theatre. A violent tragedy, regarded as one of the great works of jacobean theatre. Aug 07, 2014 the white devil show info directed by maria aberg cast includes joseph arkley, peter bray, elspeth brodie, kirsty bushell, colin anthony brown, faye castelow, keir charles, liz crowther, laura elphinstone, mark holdgate, lizzie hopley, joan iyiola, tony jayawardena, michael moreland, ken nwosu, david rintoul, simon scardifield, jay simpson. A few weeks ago, the rsc took the unprecedented step, at least in my own case, of writing to their audience about their forthcoming maria. Maria aberg interview the white devil royal shakespeare. The book is daring and dangerous, full of that gritty, nononsense, takenoprisoners storytelling found in any classic boston crime book. At the moment, hes just going to complain about getting banished. The white devil the white devil websters violent tragedy played in the swan theatre from july to november 2014, directed by maria aberg. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Director maria aberg is back at the rsc with a new version of john websters violent and misogynistic revenge tragedy the. Also, the one who references it is a sort of personal demonof lord byrons. You assume that its meant to denote the heroine, vittoria corombona, a sensual, a frustrated married woman. Forkers book offers a good summary of earlier critical responses to the white devil.
A study of the plays of john webster, wilfrid laurier university press, 1989. White devils by paul mcauley meet your next favorite book. The white devil by john webster directed by maria aberg royal shakespeare company swan theatre, stratforduponavon friday 15th august 2014, evening cast joseph arkley ludovico peter bray. You assume that its meant to denote the heroine, vittoria corombona, a sensual, a frustrated married woman whose. Such recollections detailed how vittoria, of a proud but poor family, married the nephew of cardinal montalto, who later became pope pope sixtus v. Welcome to the official website of theatre director maria aberg. The white devil by john webster directed by maria aberg royal shakespeare company swan theatre, stratforduponavon friday 15th august 2014, evening cast joseph arkley ludovico peter bray marcello elspeth brodie company kirsty bushell vittoria colin anthony brown ambassador faye castelow isabella keir charles camillo liz crowther cornelia laura elphinstone flaminio lizzie. Swan theatre royal shakespeare company 30th july 29th november 2014. About the play the duchess of malfi royal shakespeare company. With the life and death of vittoria corombona the famous venetian curtizan is a tragedy by english playwright john webster c. In an attempt to prevent the fiercely independent duchess from marrying. The book spans many years, and i assume the movie would focus on a short period of time, the white devil period. Lust, betrayal and a lot of blood in the white devil at the. Websters lurid, muddling, and occasionally dazzling drama was a flop on its first showing.
This moderndress revival of john websters the white devil is sharppaced and gripping, says dominic cavendish. John webster 1614 to the reader in publishing this tragedy, i do but challenge myself that liberty, which other men have taken before me. Aug 06, 2014 maria aberg on her new production of the white devil, part of the rscs roaring girls season. Maria abergs adaptation of websters the white devil interlocks. Maria aberg on her new production of the white devil, part of the rscs roaring girls season. Also, the one who references it is a sort of personal demonof lord byrons named john harness who happens to be haunting our main character andrew taylor who looks rather a lot like lord byron. Her book the shark cage won the 20 cinnamon press debut collection. According to websters own preface to the 1612 quarto edition, to the reader, the plays first performance in that.
Actress liz crowther plays the mother of a young woman accused of adultery and murder in maria abergs. Maria is season director for projekt europa at the rsc in 2020. The white devil is, in a sense, a trick title, designed to expose reflex sexism. Webster based the white devil on newsletter versions of the story of the killing of vittoria accoramboni. In 2018, maria aberg doctor faustus, the white devil returned to the rsc to direct john websters gory tale in her own distinct style. A few weeks ago, the rsc took the unprecedented step, at least in my own case, of writing to their audience about their forthcoming maria aberg production of john websters the white devil now playing in the swan theatre and warning. Lust, longing and murder in the white devil in stratforduponavon. This production was part of projekt europa, a season of work celebrating european theatre and theatre.
Where maria aberg, in the most recent rsc revival, heavily underscored the plays gender politics. This is a longwinded way of saying i knew nothing of the white devil as i sat on my seat to see maria abergs production. Kirsty bushell and david sturzaker played the doomed couple vittoria and duke bracciano respectively, with a crossgender casting of laura elphinstone as vittorias brother, flaminio. Lust, longing and murder in the white devil in stratfordupon. Goldberg analyzes the political and social issues in the white devil, considering the play as an antiestablishment play. Maria abergs production of the white devil does exactly that. Maria aberg blank, the white devil directs this vivid new production, plunging us headfirst into a seductive and murky world of love, money and glamour. Lust, longing and murder in the white devil in stratford. The white devil rsc version, by john webster nick hern books. In august 20, bac guai john willis, also known as the white devil because of his notorious ferocity.