Women beware women

Kate beats her 17th century forebear Thomas hands down in a ‘most famous Middleton’ contest. Prince William’s squeeze may ruefully reflect on the soap opera style scrutiny to which her romance is subjected, especially now that an engagement is allegedly imminent. In the event that Kate does join the British Royal Family her story will begin to resemble that of Bianca in Thomas Middleton’s Women Beware Women, currently in the Olivier at the National Theatre.

Bianca is propelled from obscurity into the midst of court intrigue and infighting when she becomes an unwitting pawn in the power games of an incestuous, aristocratic Florentine family. Bianca’s innocence is exploited by the lascivious Duke: her character rapidly progresses from ingénue to practised politician with consequences fatal for all and a Hamlet level body count in the final scene.

Marianne Elliott makes Middleton’s revenge tragedy a modern Machiavellian feast for the senses: sumptuous costumes, choreography and original music by Olly Fox combine on Lez Brotherston’s revolving set to produce a pacey three hours of Jacobean drama with a distinctly 21st century flavour.

Performances are generally strong and, unsurprisingly given the play’s title, the three female leads stand out. Relative newcomers Vanessa Kirby and Lauren O’Neil, as Isabella and Bianca respectively, both offer clear and compelling portrayals of the plight of young women in Middleton’s corrupt and chauvinistic world but the production belongs to Harriet Walter’s Lady Livia. With exquisite poise and her wonderful voice Walter achieves the seemingly impossible task of rendering sympathetic a vain, ageing schemestress who connives at both the downfall of Bianca and her brother’s seduction of their niece (Isabella) in an old woman’s war on youth.

“Wordy and a bit long” was the verdict of a pleasant looking woman in the audience after the curtain call. This is perhaps a bit unfair but Middleton is certainly no Shakespeare and Kate will be hoping for a happier fate than her namesake provides for his heroines.

Women Beware Women

• Sound Designer
Ian Dickinson