The Bitch is Back
Philadelphia Artists' Collective's The Duchess of Malfi
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Molière said that for the theater, all he needed was a platform and a passion or two. The Philadelphia Artists’ Collective exemplifies this sentiment with its smart, nasty production of The Duchess of Malfi.
John Webster’s 1619 tragedy, not seen professionally in Philadelphia in more than 100 years, spins a tale rivaling the most lurid HBO series, including assassinations, betrayals, sorcery, madness, ghosts, seduction — even lycanthropy (i.e., werewolves). Charlotte Northeast plays the title character, a widow in love with her steward, Antonio (Adam Altman). Her brothers, Ferdinand (Damon Bonetti) and The Cardinal (Brian McCann), don’t want her to marry again, but she weds Antonio in secret. Her pregnancy can’t be kept mum, though, and the brothers force Antonio into exile and imprison their sister. Focus shifts to Bosola (Jared Michael Delaney), a wily assassin who begins to doubt his royal employers. All culminates in a typically Elizabethan bloodbath.
Director Dan Hodge trims the play to 11 actors, and fills every role with capable professionals: Bonetti’s plunge into madness and Northeast’s soaring emotions play spectacularly, but equally impressive are Delaney’s ethical dilemmas. McCann’s Cardinal oozes officious evil, as does Melissa Lynch as his conniving mistress in a killer red dress. Jake Blouch, Doug Greene, John Lopes, Mort Paterson and Megan Slater bring clear, distinctive roles to life convincingly.
They’re supported by J. Alex Cordaro’s daring fight choreography — no messy blood effects, but harrowingly vivid death scenes — and accompaniment by cellist Steven Duckworth and percussionist David Britton, who underscore scenes with portentous rumblings and mournful accents. Hodge’s staging in the medieval-toned Broad Street Ministry space employs only a chair and the room’s spacious yet intimate (only 72 seats) playing area.
Not only is the play rare, but so is a production this clear and inventive — which means there’s no reason to wait another century to see it.
Through Oct. 9, $15, Broad Street Ministry, 315 S. Broad St., 800-838-3006, philartistscollective.weebly.com.
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