Now is the winter of our discontent …
The latest offering from Streamed Shakespeare is a most exciting RICHARD III directed by Jamie Collette. Direction by Collette is handled with assurance, strength and clarity. It is niftily edited by technical director Charlotte Wiltshire, stage manager Stephen Starnawski, visual designer, Emma Johnston and visual editor, David Castle. The poetry and power of Shakespeare’s words are beautifully handled.
It has been contemporized to a degree but still faithfully follows the complicated manoeuvrings of the Wars of the Roses. As in previous productions much use is made of the split-screen technique for the large cast. Along with wonderful atmospheric images of London the backdrops are mostly of a huge castle and voluminous rooms. Each scene and location is announced in a lugubrious voice over, with an image of a large white rose ( of York) with droplets of blood ( red for Lancaster ).
For the battle of Bosworth there is a large Lancastrian red rose for Richmond (while mostly things are updated in this version the battle of Bosworth itself is fought on horseback in armour with most effective aerial shots. It seems however a bit strange for Richard to wear a Lancastrian red jacket for the battle.
A very strong cast is led by Charles Mayer in the eponymous role. It can be quite confusing as to who’s who even with the helpful labelling of the characters at the bottom of the individual screens. Some cast members play several different roles.
The last part of the Wars of the Roses, RICHARD III details how absolute power corrupts absolutely and examines ruthless ambition and intrigues as Richard schemes to gain the crown. As Collette says about power in this play “Everybody wants it. Only Richard of Gloucester is willing to devour his own family one by one to take it. And eventually, it devours him too. The meteoric rise of a narcissistic, unscrupulous, and cruel despot is unfortunately far too familiar in our current global political climate.”
Today there are revisionist views of Richard, but Shakespeare has a lot to answer for, creating the legendary evil hunchback, ( shades of Olivier , McKellen and Sher) the last of the Plantagenet kings who is full of malevolent, overweening ambition and organises the murder of family (including his brother Clarence and the Princes in the Tower) friends and stalwart supporters (eg Buckingham), organises smear campaigns against his own family and manipulates the crowds.
In this version Richard is not shown as a hunchback or with a withered arm (apart from when he claims he is bewitched). Mayer, in a compelling, chilling performance, with his dashing moustache is charismatic and deceptively apparently elegant and charming , especially at first, but at the same time we see from the start of the play how he is plotting to become king ( one may smile, and smile and be a villain…)
As Buckingham, Shan-ree Tan show us, with splendid appreciation of the poetry of Shakespeare’s verse, his deviousness and distrust, thinking he is far more in control than he is – until he meets his downfall too.
Handsome Drew Wilson in his triple roles of Clarence, Richmond and Prince Edward was assured and delineated each character sympathetically He shone as loyal, innocent, unsuspecting Clarence. As young Prince Edward he was somewhat naive yet charming and very conscious of his high rank. As charismatic Richmond he encourages his loyal followers, like a politician today listing, Richard’s faults and promising peace and the end of despotism before leading them to battle.
Some of the male roles were played by women.
As for the ladies in the cast Maxine Elizabeth as mad Queen Margaret gives a formidable performance, vampire-like and with a touch of Ophelia in her If ancient sorrow be most reverend speech suing the petals of the flowers for her Edward, Harry and Richard.
Holly Champion as refined, elegant Queen Margaret caught up in these tumultuous events is terrific. Chiara Osborn was appropriately shocked and agitated as Lady Anne and gracefully irreproachable as the young Elizabeth.
Meredith O’Reilly is full of grim-faced authority as the Duchess of York, castigating Richard’s obsession and insensitivity and the blindness of his followers.
Ben Barber, Samantha Procter, Asalemo Tofete, Haki Pepo Olu Crisden, Roslyn Hicks, Jim Southwell, Tristan Lestavel-Entwhistle, Rhiannan Bateman and Jamie Collette himself portray the various other characters that either follow Richard – or are killed by him . They all bring vibrant life to the characters with great attention to the rhythm of the poetry and wonderfully portray Shakespeare’s version of Richard.
Running time 3hrs 10 mins including interval
http://www.streamedshakespeare.com
RICHARD III Charles Mayer QUEEN ELIZABETH Holly Champion BUCKINGHAM Shan-ree Tan DUCHESS OF YORK Meredith O’Reilly RATCLIFF Ben Barber CATESBY Samantha Proctor LORD STANLEY Haki Pepo Olu Crisden HASTINGS / BLUNT Asalemo Tofete QUEEN MARGARET Maxine Elizabeth CLARENCE / RICHMOND / PRINCE EDWARD Drew Wilson LADY ANNE / YORK / YOUNG ELIZABETH Chiara Osborn BRAKENBURY / LORD MAYOR Tristan Lestavel – Entwistle DORSET Rhiannon Bateman GREY / TYRRELL Jim Southwell RIVERS / OXFORD Roslyn Hicks KING EDWARD IV Jamie Collette THE GHOST OF KING HENRY VI Surprise Guest