Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown ..
This is not your ‘standard’ version of Shakespeare’s THE TRAGEDY OF RICHARD 11, nor think for instance of the landmark versions starring Derek Jacobi, Fiona Shaw or David Tennant. Directed by Joe Hill- Gibbons , it is part of the NT Live series and was filmed at the Almedia Theatre in London earlier this year. Rather it is a sparse cold, dark, bleak, blustery version that has been abridged and has ‘only’ a cast of eight most of whom except Simon Russell Beale in the eponymous role play multiple characters .Beale gives a magnificently powerful performance in the title role but the production is somewhat unsatisfying and almost all of the poetry is lost. There is a lot of shouting the lines and sometimes they are spoken almost too quickly, lessening the impact.
The cast, who are onstage the whole time , are trapped in a cold, silver room with no doors or windows and a frosted glass ceiling (as designed by ULTZ). Rivets in the walls echo their process of construction and can provide a star like effect. There are no chairs or tables, just several buckets (labelled Water, Soil, Blood etc ) against the back wall that are used at particular points in the performance to dramatic affect. The cast wear contemporary casual grey or black clothes and at first large gardening gloves. At times the excellent ensemble work together like a pulsating, whirling mass and become like a Greek chorus. As they are on stage the whole time there is no let up and sometimes it feels as if they are stalking Richard. Some of the scenes have an intense build up of energy, with characters shooting off the walls at times – for example the repeated explosive challenges where hurled gauntlets (here what look to be gardening gloves) are thrown and collect in a pile, or where King Richard confronts Bolingbroke like a boxing match.
The themes of the play are explored – the Divine Right of kings , that this is a country in turmoil and political upheaval, the battle between Richard and Bolingbroke who becomes Henry IV and it has a savage contemporary atmosphere.
This production begins and finishes with the same speech from Act 5, scene five: Richard pondering his identity – who or what is he, if not the anointed King?.
Simon Russell Beale as Richard II gives a stunning performance. In this version the play is stripped of all regal gilt and decoration and ritual so we concentrate on the characters. At times he is flamboyant, pompous and haughty. Yet we also get to see the human side of the regal personage. We discover Richard’s faults – his extreme self confidence, anger and self centred nature and yet also the sense of failure and questioning loss of identity that define the themes of the play. His opening monologue ( from Act V ) is dramatic and compelling grabbing you from the start. Once covered in blood and dirt after being deposed his mirror/reflection speech is extraordinarily powerful.
The rest of the cast give fine performances too ..
Leo Bill , with his haunted eyes, as Bolingbroke , is vibrant and vigorous, shrewdly able to handle all the political machinations, silkily intelligent, yet at times he is also nervous, contradictory and impetuous. The moment where he hesitates to crown himself is a highlight.
Jospeh Mydall as John of Gaunt still catches the poetry in his beautifully delivered “This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England” speech .
John Mckay as the Duke of York has really only a brief chance to indicate Richard’s uncle’s torn loyalties while Robin Weaver succinctly defines the plotting, colluding rather disdainful and power grasping Earl of Northumberland.
Saskia Reeves impressively plays three characters. Mowbray, Bushy Green and the Duchess of York and clearly defines how each character is different with minuscule if any change of costume or props in a fascinating performance.
A portrait of a country in chaos, this is a bleak, challenging and confronting version.
Running time allow just over 2 hours no interval.
The NT Live The Tragedy of Richard 11 starring Simon Russell Beale is screening at selected arthouse cinemas.