The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 25.096 Thursday, 27 February 2014
From: Hardy M. Cook <
Date: Thursday, February 27, 2014
Subject: Folger Shakespeare Theatre’s RICHARD III
RICHARD III
Directed by Robert Richmond
Folger Elizabethan Theatre
January 28–March 16, 2014
I saw the Folger Richard III last night.
It was quite an experience to see the transformed Folger Elizabethan Theatre space as theater-in-the-round. The stage itself was one of the more interesting aspects of the show. There is a YouTube video of the theater’s transformation from proscenium to theater-in-the-round here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=K0vSkBo5M60
I will remember this production as the Goth-Carpark Richard. Every time someone was dispatched, the corpse ended up being stashed below the stage in grave-like compartments.
Costuming was distinctly Goth. All the men wore black and Queen Elizabeth wore a dominatrix top and had black fingernail polish.
You might think this was all a setup for black humor, but no—this was the darkest, least funny Richard III of my experience. Imagine a Richard that does not Vice-like share and thoroughly enjoy his villainy in asides. This Richard was just a villain, not a villain relishing his own wickedness.
There were no laughs in the first part and only a few in the second during the time Buckingham directed the audience to encourage Richard to become king. I got my greatest laugh went I was leaving and realized that in the central compartment of the stage where Richard was stowed there were bones laid out as Richard’s skeleton was displayed in photographs after being discovered in Leicester. That was funny.
The staging was fluid, adapted well to the space.
My biggest complaint was that some of the scenes were interminable. I would have cut much more. However, one consequence of the script as acted was that there was a more prominent role given to the women than is usual in performance.
However, as I sat in this space I could not help but remember with fondness the finest Richard III I have seen, Stacy Keach, in that very place in 1990. Stacy really enjoyed every moment of his performance, as did I.
Cast:
Jenna Berk: Princess Elizabeth
Holden Brettell: Prince Edward
Remy Brettell: Prince of York
Drew Cortese: King Richard III
Andrew Criss: Ratcliffe, Friar
Daniel Flint: Lovell, Friar
Sean Fri: Hastings, Tyrrel
Michael Gabriel Goodfriend: Rivers, Richmond
Nanna Ingvarsson: Duchess of York
Naomi Jacobson: Queen Margaret
Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan: Lady Anne
Paul Morella: Edward, Mayor, Norfolk
Julia Motyka: Queen Elizabeth
Howard W. Overshown: Buckingham
Michael Sharon: Clarence, Catesby
Richard Sheridan Willis: Stanley
Artistic Team:
Robert Richmond: Director
Tony Cisek: Scenic Designer
Mariah Hale: Costume Designer
Jim Hunter: Lighting Designer
Eric Shimelonis, Sound Designer and Music Composition
Casey Dean Kaleba: Fight Director
Michele Osherow: Resident Dramaturg
Daryl Eisenberg: CSA New York Casting
Che Wernsman: Production Stage Manager
Keri Schultz: Assistant Stage Manager