Plum trees that grow crooked over standing pools.
August 26, 2012 9:01 PM   Subscribe

In the year 1612 John Webster began what would be his greatest work, The Tragedy of the Dutchesse of Malfy. A shocking work of madness, brutally corrupt power struggle and incest, it continues to challenge audiences. YouTube has the 1972 BBC production in full. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]
posted by winna (7 comments total) 30 users marked this as a favorite
 
Gotta give it to a play that contains the line "we are merely the stars' tennis balls…"
posted by Nomyte at 9:08 PM on August 26, 2012 [1 favorite]


"Tim Curry - a madman"
posted by ThatFuzzyBastard at 10:02 PM on August 26, 2012


John Webster is the boy in Shakespeare in Love, who, when asked what he thought of Romeo and Juliet, replies that "I lilked it when she stabbed herself"
posted by das1969 at 11:35 PM on August 26, 2012 [3 favorites]


So many great lines in a play with such one-sided white and dark characters. Of them all only Bosola held any real interest to me.

Still, amazing play just for the line

"Methinks I see a thing arm'd with a rake,
That seems to strike at me."
posted by steerpike at 3:58 AM on August 27, 2012


Obligatory Echo & the Bunnymen link.

John Webster was
One of the best there was.
He was the author of
Two major tragedies;
The White Devil and
The Duchess of Malfi.
The White Devil and
The Duchess of Malfi.

posted by merocet at 8:04 AM on August 27, 2012 [2 favorites]


I though it was John Ford of "Tis a Pity She's a Whore" fame that was the young lad. Ford did so love bloodbaths in his productions.
posted by jadepearl at 11:45 AM on August 27, 2012


People who enjoyed this might also get a kick out of a film version of Middleton's (or possibly Tourneur's) The Revenger's Tragedy with Christopher Eccleston, Derek Jacobi, and Eddie Izzard. It's an odd little film set in a sort-of-postapocalyptic Britain, but it retains most of the Jacobean dialogue. Check it out.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 4:28 PM on August 27, 2012 [1 favorite]


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