Making their debut about a year ago with Macbeth, Arrant Knaves Theatre Company returns with a classic Jacobean revenge tragedy. Unfortunately the good things about this production are undercut by the bad.

Premiering in London around 1613, John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi draws on real events that occurred in Italy only a few years before. This adaptation by Arrant Knaves Artistic Director Tom Bradley trims the script, but it’s essentially the same story.

Christina Costigan in Arrant Knaves’ The Duchess of Malfi. Photo © Daniel Rabin Photography

The recently widowed title character’s two brothers, a cardinal and Ferdinand, Duke of Calabria, warn her not to remarry without their approval. She secretly defies them, marrying her steward, Antonio, and has three children with him. The truth is eventually revealed when Ferdinand sends a soldier, Bosola, to spy on his sister, and cruelty and murder ensues.

The duchess and her lady-in-waiting are the first to be dispatched, followed by Antonio, the Cardinal’s married mistress, the repentant Bosola, Ferdinand, whose regret has driven him mad, and the Cardinal. Act II offers a parade of strangulations, stabbings and even the forced kissing of a poisoned...