INTRODUCTION
The White Devil is a sensational tale of Italianate intrigue, steamy passions, dissolute, peremptory men and determined, sensual women, murder and betrayal. It was entirely typical of Webster's times to make a desirable and strong-willed woman responsible for the moral degradation and eventual downfall of a whole series of prominent men.
(Source: Australian programme)
THE PLOT
The White Devil is loosely based on real events which were of great topical interest in Webster's time. Duke Brachiano is in love with Vittoria Corombona, but he is married to Isabella. Vittoria's ambitious brother Flamineo arranges the murder of Isabella and of Vittoria's husband Camillo, to get the rich Brachiano and Vittoria together. Brachiano and Vittoria marry and move to Padua. But the Duke of Florence, Isabella's brother, sets out for revenge.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTION: Francisco de' Medici
Francisco, Duke of Florence and Isabella's brother, is the main plotter: he sends a letter to Vittoria predending love and planning an elopement, but his real plan is to fuel Brachiano's jealousy. Together with Count Lodovico (the role PQ played in the UK production) Francisco belongs to the "avengers" group in the play. Although the role of Francisco de Medici was limited in the real story, Webster chose to magnify his involvement in The White Devil, in order to strengthen the revenge element and to provide a vital link between the two main groups in the play.
Big thanks to Diane for graciously providing the production's programme. |
  Like nearly all the Jacobean Revenge Tragedies, The White Devil is set in Italy. Renaissance England was fascinated by life in Italy and it was a favourite setting for plays. It was known as the centre of European art, the source of man's greatest creative genius, but it was also reputed for the corruption and the debauchery of its courts. |
The White Devil may not be England's profoundest play, but it is full of good, old-fashioned action and primal emotions. Everyone is motivated by simple drives such as lust, greed, ambition, honor, and revenge.The chic costumes reflect a society where sex is power and life is cheap.
Philip Anson, theatre critic |
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In January 2001 the STC production of The White Devil transferred briefly to the US, and precisely to the BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music). Philip Quast and Hugo Weaving couldn't reprise their respective roles owing to other artistic commitments. |
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THE WHITE DEVIL (Sydney)
Full Cast & Crew
