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Geoff Zeger
Britain based Almeida Theatre
Company brings sterling performances of William Shakespeare’s
Richard II and Coriolanus to the Brooklyn Academy
of Music (BAM). The title roles of both shows star Ralph Fiennes.
Previous movie credits by Ralph Fiennes include "Schindler’s
List," "The English Patient," and most recently
"The End of the Affair" and "Sunshine."
The Almeida Theatre Company has
been making its mark since 1990 with shows that have included
Ralph Fiennes as Hamlet (in 1995), Liam Neeson in Judas
Kiss, Diana Rigg as Euripides’ Medea, and Kevin Spacey
in the Iceman Cometh. The Artistic Director of the
Almeida, Jonathan Kent, who directs BAM’s Richard II,
has also directed Ralph Fiennes in Chekhov’s Ivanov in
1997. Ivanov was eventually toured to Moscow. Jonathan
Kent and co-artistic director Ian McDiarmid took over a 303-seat
theatre in north London and brought renewed vigor and craft
to a building, which was at one time a lecture hall, a factory,
and even a Salvation Army center.
Richard II does not have
the fame of a hunchback, or a myriad of quotes that are now
part of everyday lexicon. It is significant, however, as the
Shakespearean Historical Play marking the beginning of the
War of the Roses. The usurpation of the boy king, Richard
II by Henry of Bolinbroke began the 50 year civil war between
the House of Lancaster (Red Rose) and the House of York (White
Rose). Some have even considered the ensuing war a curse for
taking the throne without legal or spiritual claim. The King
of England was a minister of God, and Henry of Bolinbroke
was a Duke and subject of the crown. In Act IV of Richard
II, the Bishop of Carlisle predicts what will happen if
Bolinbroke seizes the crown: "And if you crown him, let
me prophesy, the blood of English shall manure the ground
and future ages groan for this foul act." The War of
the Roses ends with Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of King Richard
III.
Richard II at BAM begins
at approximately 7:55PM. "Why," you may ask? Don’t shows traditionally
commence at 8:00PM? Yes, but shortly before 8, while the audience
is scuttling around, buzzing with conversation and adjusting
seats, cast members slowly, and one at a time, begin to enter.
The house lights are still on. John of Gaunt meanders to a
downstage position and waits. Shortly thereafter, Mowbray
enters, and then his supporters. Bolinbroke and his supporters
enter. Everyone is waiting. The audience is waiting and the
cast members are waiting. Suddenly, with a flurry of glorious
music and lights, the King is brought onto the stage, all
cast members go down to one knee, and the house lights go
down. This entrance emphasizes the contrast between the King
in the beginning, as an instrument of God, and in the end,
locked in a prison. There is a beautifully crafted arc from
high to low – the fall of one who is great. A tragic fall
from power is seen in the costume change of from white silk
with gold embroidery at the beginning, to a shirtless, chained,
and dethroned King with no name or title at the show's end.
The arc is further supported by the acting mastery of Ralph
Fiennes. Historically, Richard II inherited the throne in
1377 when he was 10 years old. He was a lover of music, pageantry,
and luxury. His character was self-obsessed with his own omnipotence.
He was mercurial, and more prone to play than to rule. Ralph
Fiennes gracefully negotiates these character traits with
completely believable behavior and mannerisms. On camera,
the inward dwelling and moody Fiennes absorbs attention in
a close-up, but this does not hinder his ability to adeptly
move around the stage and utilize his voice as an instrument.
He commands the verse, antonyms and antithesis, thus applying
technique without sacrificing story.
Richard II’s nemesis, Bolinbroke
(played by the up and coming Linus Roache) also goes through
a character transformation. Initially, when challenging Mowbray,
Bolinbroke is pompous and arrogant – almost to the point of
unlikability. As his determination to reclaim his rightful
property grows and he makes his case, he morphs into a clear,
cogent character who wins over audience affection. Eventually
an audience member says, "yeah...he’s right!" As
his power grows, so does his ability to seek right from wrong.
Linus Roache adroitly handles the guilt of usurping the crown,
and dethroning his cousin.
All cast members receive a thumbs
up. Ralph Fiennes is the centerpiece and actor of name in
the production, but all of the cast commanded the meter and
fully committed to their characters. The story of Richard
II was clearly told, transitions between events occurred smoothly,
the audience is absorbed in each moment with a desire to know
what will happen next, and at no time did the words overshadow
the action. Rather, the skill of the actors enhanced the action.
For more information on the Brooklyn Academy of Music, check
out www.bam.org/index.htm
and for more information on the Almeda Theatre Company check
out www.almeida.co.uk.
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