The Duchess of Malfi presented by Babes With Blades Theatre Company at Factory Theater

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"...Babes With Blades’s current production, directed by Hayley Rice, doesn’t find its way cleanly through all the tricky shifts in tone (for a tragedy, you may find yourself giggling at some of the over-the-top twists). The fate of the title character (played by Carrie Hardin)—an Italian widow who flouts the dictates of her brothers (a duke and cardinal) and remarries below her station—feels ancillary to that of a more compelling figure."

Buzznews.net - Highly Recommended

"..."Duchess of Malfi" is another winner from Babes with Blades Theatre Company, a troupe I have loved for 20 years. As part of its core mission, Babes With Blades uses stage combat to "tell stories that elevate the voices of underrepresented communities and dismantle the patriarchy." Stage fighting is an interesting vehicle for social justice; the mere existence of an all-woman stage fighting company is a statement in itself."

The Fourth Walsh - Recommended

"...Director Hayley Rice dusts off John Webster's 1600s Jacobean revenge tragedy. Rice cleverly takes a play focused on gender inequality and casts it with gender fluidity. Traditional roles and relationships receive a contemporary makeover. Most notably, the Duchess' lover, Antonio is played by Clara Byczkowski and the brother's spy Bosola is played by Maureen Yasko. Byczkowski and Carrie Hardin's (Duchess) taboo marriage heightens the total disregard to the patriarchy. And a fierce Yasko, in traditional male garb with long purple hair, is in all ways a non gender-specific badass. Nod out to Designer Jennifer Mohr for costumes combining regal with hints of rebellion."