THE WHITE DEVIL
by John Webster
Directed by Barry Evans - barry.evans1st@gmail.com – 07989 979 251
Reading: Wednesday October 14th, 8.00p.m – Mary Wallace Theatre Foyer, TW1 3DU
Audition: Monday October 19th, 7.45p.m – M.W.T. Auditorium
Playing Dates Saturday 30th January - Saturday 6th February
The White Devil has magnificent parts for men, and in Vittoria Corombona one of the great female stage
roles. The script has been edited to a playing length to two hours. If you are interested in reading the stageready script, I can email a digital copy. A copy will also be available in the M.W.T. foyer.
If you cannot make the audition night, and wish to pre-audition, please contact the club Secretary, Carol
Fuller: (020) 8399 7268
Note: Rehearsals will probably follow the conventional pattern of Tuesday, Thursday, Friday evenings and
Sunday afternoons, starting November 15th. After a break starting December 21st, rehearsals will begin
again on Sunday January 3rd.
Character Notes and Audition Pieces:
CARDINAL MONTICELSO afterwards Pope PAUL IV.
A smoothly hypocritical churchman. Age 40+. No-one can sound his depths.
A (With Vittoria) Act III Sc 2, p27 - 'Who knows not how' to 'Enters the devil murder. '
B (With Francisco) Act IV Sc 1, p36 - Come, come, my lord,' to p37 'Tis here, my lord. '
FRANCISCO DE MEDICIS Duke of Florence. A proud, arrogant, vengeful aristocrat; head of the most
powerful family in Italy. And a cunning schemer. Age 30+
(With Brachiano; read in Monticelso line) Act II Sc 1, p13 'You have said, my lord' to p14 'thicket of thy ablest men'.
ISABELLA, Francisco's sister and Brachiano's wife. Virtuously self-sacrificing. Desperate to avoid the
final schism between Francisco and her husband. 30-ish.
(With Brach) Act II Sc1, p16 - from Brach ' Do you bandy factions?' to 'this sad ensuing part. '
DUKE OF BRACHIANO, married to Isabella. Francisco's social and political equal - if possible, even
prouder than the Medici duke. Besotted with lust for Vittoria. Age 40+
A (With Mont) Act III Sc 1. p28 - (Mont) 'Pray you mistress,' to p29 'out of another's lodging. '
B (With Vit & Flam) Act IV Sc 2, p40 from 'Can you read, mistress?' to p42 Vit: 'still thy whore. '
GIOVANNI his son by Isabella. The hope of both families, spoiled from the cradle. Early teens.
(With Fran) Act III Sc 2. p33 from 'What do the dead do, uncle?' to 'And would not let me kiss her. '
VITTORIA COROMBONA Fascinating, changeable, highly intelligent, and amoral. Desirability is her
only weapon for social advancement. Age, 25 -35.
(With Mont) Act III Sc 1. p31from (Mont) 'For you, Vittoria, your public fault,' to 'Spread their richest
light. '
CAMILLO, her husband. A wealthy dolt and cuckold. Any age, but preferably 50+.
(With Flam) Act I Sc2 p4 from (Flam) 'How now, brother? What, travelling to bed with your kind wife?' to
'It would fain jump with my mistress. '
MARCELLO Vittoria's brother, and Attendant to the Duke of Florence. A member of the inferior classes,
a hard-working prig. Age 25-30.
(With Flam) Act V Sc 1 p50 from Mar 'You're a strumpet, an impudent one.' to 'With thy heart blood.'
FLAMINEO, also her brother; Secretary to Brachiano, and therefore in the opposite camp. Determined to
use his sister's charms to get ahead. Age 25-30.
A. (Read in Brach.) Act I Sc 2 p4 ''Bove merit!' to 'Away, away, my lord.'
B. Act V Sc 6 p67 'Oh, cunning devils!' to 'all in one night.'
CORNELIA, their mother. Has one of the greatest dirge scenes in English drama. Age 55+.
Act V Sc 4 p62 from 'Call for the robin redbreast and the wren' to 'Bless you all, good people'.
LODOVICO A nasty piece of work. A count who has fallen on hard times and delights in committing
robbery and murder. Age 30+.
Act I Sc 1 p2 (With Hortensio & Gasparo) from 'Banish'd!' to 'For one kiss to the duke. '
GASPARO, his friend and right hand man. Age 25+
HORTENSIO, one of Brachiano's officers. Stolid and unimaginative. Could double. Age 35+
Audition pieces with Lodovico, as above.
ZANCHE servant to Vittoria. Written as 'a moor', she can be any ethnicity. Age 18 - 30.
Act V Sc 3 p59 (With Francisco: cut Lodovico interjections) 'I knew last night,' to 'This night to rob Vittoria.
'
DOCTOR/CONJURER besotted with his own cleverness. Any age.
Act II Sc 2 p21 'You have won me' to 'that breaks your duchess' heart. '
LAWYER A comic role. Must be able to cope with Latin and complex English.
Act III Sc 2 p25
A. 'Domine judex, converte oculos in hac pestem, mulierum corruptissimam.
B. "Most literated judges" to "and her projections.”
Some very small parts - Matrona, Servants and Armourer, may be doubled.
8898 4397
Richmond Shakespeare Society, Mary Wallace Theatre, The Embankment, Twickenham, TW1 3DU
www.richmondshakespeare.org.uk