Comments on: The Dutchess of Malfi http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-dutchess-of-malfi/ Reflections of a working writer and reader Sat, 19 May 2012 08:23:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Nic http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-dutchess-of-malfi/comment-page-1/#comment-109654 Nic Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:49:46 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/?p=308#comment-109654 dude, you plagerised the wikipedia piece on the play for your site... unprofessional. <strong>jb says</strong>: OK, dudey dude, i may well have borrowed half a line from the history of the play (in which the Wikipedia piece in turn quotes from Ian Jack's article on "The Case of John Webster"), but no more, and my review concerned a specific production and was more than ninety percent a review of that production. Still if you want to trawl the internet looking for hairs to split, well, please don't stop to think. And to quote the play: "A Spanish fig for your impudence" dude, you plagerised the wikipedia piece on the play for your site…
unprofessional.

jb says: OK, dudey dude, i may well have borrowed half a line from the history of the play (in which the Wikipedia piece in turn quotes from Ian Jack’s article on “The Case of John Webster”), but no more, and my review concerned a specific production and was more than ninety percent a review of that production. Still if you want to trawl the internet looking for hairs to split, well, please don’t stop to think. And to quote the play: “A Spanish fig for your impudence”

]]> By: Steph http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-dutchess-of-malfi/comment-page-1/#comment-80095 Steph Tue, 15 May 2007 21:37:36 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/?p=308#comment-80095 I have been studying the dutchess of malfi and it really is an amazing play. I absolutely love it. As for the Dutchess pitied or criticised? I have been studying the dutchess of malfi and it really is an amazing play. I absolutely love it. As for the Dutchess pitied or criticised?

]]> By: kevin http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-dutchess-of-malfi/comment-page-1/#comment-55109 kevin Sun, 08 Apr 2007 15:55:56 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/?p=308#comment-55109 you should look into the movie Hotel by Mike Figgis, it's loosely based on the play, in the sense that there is a movie crew trying to film a version of The Dutchess of Malfi, but obviously there are parallels to the play within the actual movie itself. it's also largely unscripted and just generally an original and interesting film. <strong>jb says</strong>: OK, Kevin, thanks for the tip. I didn't know about it, but now it's on my to do list. you should look into the movie Hotel by Mike Figgis, it’s loosely based on the play, in the sense that there is a movie crew trying to film a version of The Dutchess of Malfi, but obviously there are parallels to the play within the actual movie itself. it’s also largely unscripted and just generally an original and interesting film.

jb says: OK, Kevin, thanks for the tip. I didn’t know about it, but now it’s on my to do list.

]]> By: Lee http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-dutchess-of-malfi/comment-page-1/#comment-9243 Lee Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:39:00 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/?p=308#comment-9243 John, I've just begun a wonderful essay on melodrama by Charles Baxter entitled 'Maps and Legends of Hell: Notes on Melodrama,' from his <em>Burning Down the House: Essays on Fiction</em>. I think I may post about it over at <a rel="nofollow" href="http://lowebrow.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Lowebrow</a> at some point, because it's already opened up so many new - at least for me - possibilities. Baxter links melodrama to power, for example. And here this quote: 'Melodrama, typically, is the scene of the incomprehensible attached to the unforgivable. It is powered by the force of the demonic, particularly in its capacity and willingness to hurt.' What I like so much about your blog is that it enables a real conversation. <strong>jb says</strong>: Brilliant quote. It's almost a description of the last act of <em>The Dutchess of Malfi</em>, particularly in Ferdinand's psychopathic rage and the bloody revenge he takes on his sister and her household. I'll look forward to your critique of Baxter's essay. John, I’ve just begun a wonderful essay on melodrama by Charles Baxter entitled ‘Maps and Legends of Hell: Notes on Melodrama,’ from his Burning Down the House: Essays on Fiction. I think I may post about it over at Lowebrow at some point, because it’s already opened up so many new – at least for me – possibilities. Baxter links melodrama to power, for example. And here this quote: ‘Melodrama, typically, is the scene of the incomprehensible attached to the unforgivable. It is powered by the force of the demonic, particularly in its capacity and willingness to hurt.’

What I like so much about your blog is that it enables a real conversation.

jb says: Brilliant quote. It’s almost a description of the last act of The Dutchess of Malfi, particularly in Ferdinand’s psychopathic rage and the bloody revenge he takes on his sister and her household. I’ll look forward to your critique of Baxter’s essay.

]]> By: Napfisk http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-dutchess-of-malfi/comment-page-1/#comment-9228 Napfisk Thu, 26 Oct 2006 13:57:03 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/?p=308#comment-9228 I was lucky enough to see a modern-day adaption (and translation) of this play a few years ago. Unfortunately, I can't remember much of the details now, except that it was well done and that I enjoyed it. The themes were all there, but luckily none of that "let's set this in a specific contemporary setting" was involved. Perhaps stripping a play like this to its bare essentials works best. But maybe my wanting to see it so badly back then and the haze of memory are playing tricks on me. Pity you couldn't enjoy it, because I believe it's not performed that often (at least not here). <strong>jb says</strong>: If memory serves me well, Napfisk, you're in Belgium. . . I must say that my experience was not at all like yours. I won't be going to see the play again in a hurry. But I'm a forgiving kind of a soul, and after a while, I might be ready for some more punishment. I was lucky enough to see a modern-day adaption (and translation) of this play a few years ago. Unfortunately, I can’t remember much of the details now, except that it was well done and that I enjoyed it.

The themes were all there, but luckily none of that “let’s set this in a specific contemporary setting” was involved. Perhaps stripping a play like this to its bare essentials works best.

But maybe my wanting to see it so badly back then and the haze of memory are playing tricks on me.

Pity you couldn’t enjoy it, because I believe it’s not performed that often (at least not here).

jb says: If memory serves me well, Napfisk, you’re in Belgium. . .

I must say that my experience was not at all like yours. I won’t be going to see the play again in a hurry. But I’m a forgiving kind of a soul, and after a while, I might be ready for some more punishment.

]]> By: Lee http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-dutchess-of-malfi/comment-page-1/#comment-9205 Lee Thu, 26 Oct 2006 11:18:34 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/?p=308#comment-9205 One I've never read, and now you've made me curious. I'm not sure I agree about melodrama - there's still an awful lot of it about. Titanic, anyone? <strong>jb says</strong>: Oh, yes, the Titanic was a big one to miss. One I’ve never read, and now you’ve made me curious.

I’m not sure I agree about melodrama – there’s still an awful lot of it about. Titanic, anyone?

jb says: Oh, yes, the Titanic was a big one to miss.

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