THE WHITE DEVIL
RSC
at the Swan, Stratford
29.11.2014
Whatever
would Webster think ?
If
he were writing now, would he be Tarantino or Orton ?
His
violent revenge tragedy is dragged by director Maria Aberg into the
1970s, with disco dancing and a general air of unstylish loucheness
for the “horror upon horror”.
This
is part of the Roaring Girls season, so the most interesting
character, Flaminio, is now female [Laura Elphinstone], somewhat
overshadowing Kirsty Bushell's strong Vittoria, and generally
behaving as if she were the White Devil of the title.
Good
work from David Rintoul, by far the best verse speaker in a very
mixed bunch, in a natty red blazer as the Cardinal.
Video,
dance, pumping music, the cult of celebrity, give the show a very
modern feel, somewhat at odds with the misogyny in the text,
especially the reaction to adultery.
All
of us who booked were sent a letter warning of the shocking immediacy
consequent on the contemporary setting. Didn't come across in the
event, in a confusing, ultimately unsatisfying production.
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