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Author Archives: jaredmcdaris
Bathory Buddies: Justin Verstraete
Justin plays Johnno, a servant who is unceremoniously conscripted into service as Count Nadasdy’s standard bearer, where it turns out he’s unusually gifted in combat despite his low birth (at least in our production). Like Jane Maridova, the role of … Continue reading
Bathory: Hapsbergs, Hamlet, Prince Caspian, and King Henry V
Act 2, Scene 2 of Countess Bathory is the longest scene in the play (just like 2.2 in Hamlet). It features several interludes that allow Elizabeth to display more varied aspects of her personality (again, like Hamlet). She spends a … Continue reading
Bathory: Kate, and the Illusion of Opportunity
In Act I Scene I of Countess Bathory, Kate is a young servant with a lovely voice, who is ordered to sing at Elizabeth’s wedding (and happy to do so). A single thoughtless statement from the wrong person at the wrong time … Continue reading
Bathory Buddies: Joshua Carroll
Joshua Carroll plays King Matthias II, a manipulative monarch who hides his monetary motivations behind a skein of moral indignation. Matthias had been written as a cunning and confident manipulator, comfortable in his physical and social (and religious) power. It … Continue reading
Bathory Buddies: Juliana Brecher
Juliana Brecher was our final addition to the Countess Bathory cast. Among other roles, she plays the unfortunately fated and unfortunately named Susannah Woodseam. Perhaps one of the most common and most immature forms of bullying is name-calling and name-mockery. … Continue reading
Bathory: Nadasdy and Reputation, Reputation
In three of his four scenes in Countess Bathory, Count Ferenc de Nadasdy (Elizabeth Bathory’s husband) begins by presenting himself as a romantic knight: he speaks of love more than anything else, and presents both a charming exterior and an intense … Continue reading
“Elizabethan Horror Show”
“Countess Bathory; or Elizabethan Horror Story, or Blood Orange is the New Black. Riveting performances led by some blood thirsty ladies who were clearly having the time of their lives tormenting each other. Glad to have caught the last show … Continue reading
“Darkly Funny, Deeply Unsettling”
“Folks, go see Countess Bathory: A New Elizabethan Tragedy by Jared McDaris if you can! It’s donations-welcome and an epic darkly funny deeply unsettling Elizabethan style play with fantastic language and fantastic performances!” – Aly Mierzejewski COUNTESS BATHORY is back, … Continue reading
“Brilliantly Written and Beautifully Performed.”
“Countess Bathory is a brilliantly written and beautifully performed piece. Given the gruesome background of the story, it may seem reasonable to walk in expecting to see something that could cleanly fall within the realm of horror – but that … Continue reading