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Wednesday, March 16, 2016

In Context: Richard II

David Tennant (Doctor Who, Broadchurch) makes his US stage debut as the ineffectual king in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s masterful take on Shakespeare’s Richard II, a study of squandered sovereignty. Context is everything, so get even closer to the show with this curated selection of related articles, interviews, and videos. After you've attended the show, let us know what you thought below and by posting on social media using #KingandCountry.

Program Notes

King and Country: Shakespeare's Great Cycle of Kings (PDF)

Read

Article
Shakespeare's Henriad (BAM Blog)
Written in part to fuel nationalist sentiment during the Golden Age of Elizabeth I, Shakespeare’s Henriad is a sweeping study of power squandered, seized, and dumped in the proverbial lap.

Article
Folger Gems (BAM Blog)
Shakespearean scholar James Shapiro discusses the promptbooks, rare quartos, and other treasures from the Folger Shakespeare Library on display during King and Country.

Article
Henry V—Rebellion Broached (BAM Blog)
Shakespearean scholar James Shapiro describes how Shakespeare’s Henry V paralleled the Earl of Essex’s attempt to curtail rebellion in 1599.

Summary
Richard II Plot Synopsis (RSC.org.uk)
Learn to distinguish Henry Bollingbroke from the Duke of Gloucester before the show.

Watch & Listen

Video
Gregory Doran on King and Country: Shakespeare’s Great Cycle of Kings (BAM blog)
In a rich conversation with eminent Shakespeare scholar James Shapiro, Royal Shakespeare Company Artistic Director Gregory Doran sheds light on the four plays.

Video
Production Diary: Richard II (YouTube)
Follow director Gregory Doran into the Richard II rehearsal process in this multipart behind-the-scenes peek at the production.

Video
Interview with David Tennant on Richard II (YouTube)
Michael Jackson as a modern-day analog to Richard II? David Tennent opines.

Now your turn...

Which show(s) did you see? What was your favorite moment in the show? Did David Tennant transcend his Dr. Who fame? Did Richard deserve his fate? Tell us what's on your mind in the comments below and on social media using #KingandCountry.

21 comments:

  1. Excellent! What a thrill to be told...a story. Clear, precise, handcrafted, funny, heartbreaking, and relevant to modern Trump's ascendancy?! God help us!

    I never realized Richard II was a comedy of subterfuges, but it really works. Pointing up all the irony really makes the time fly by and what would otherwise become self-absorbed fills with crests and waves.

    Great acting, directing and design choices!

    Thank you all around!

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  2. Does David transcend his Doctor Who fame? Of course. I've always loved his stage work. I got to see this in London and now BAM. David as usual commands the stage, (almost especially when Richard's in trouble...) and the whole ensemble is up for the fight. It was cool to see some actors return again, some in "new" roles, and how different some of the interpretations were from the "new" cast members. Perfect learning experience. These "Henrys" will be new to me. I'm really looking forward to seeing Jasper Britton keep going now and how the rest of the casting relates. Staging still looks gorgeous in a different space too! The chain, moving trees, and under floor lighting are still my favorite parts.

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  3. David Tennant is brilliant. I was struck by the comparisons to Henry VI who also was out of step with his surroundings and failed to rule effectively as a result. Mores the pity since the surroundings are brutal and dehumanizing. It seems to be a recurrent theme visible today as well. terribly moving and engaging. While there are lines that are "humorous" it is difficult to understand how parts of the audience can laugh in the face of pathos and tragedy. But that is what makes horse races! Wonderful experience but I will miss Tennant's presence in the succeeding history plays.

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  4. Thank you to the Royal Shakespeare Company for bringing this fantastic production to the United States. Full of humor, passion, and sincerity, "Richard II" was a real treat. Delighted to have witnessed David Tennant's American stage premiere, which was brilliant, as to be expected.

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  5. Seeing a big name celebrity being billed does not determine whether or not I will select a play. I have to be drawn to the play itself. If it happens to have a star in the lead role, great, but that is no guarantee of a good performance. That said, I attended opening night of Richard this past Thursday evening. I was intrigued by the play for several reasons: I have never seen the play, and I was intrigued by Richard II as a historical figure. The fact that David Tennant played the king was icing on the cake. What rich icing it was! I was very impressed by his authenticity in the role of the weak sovereign. The entire production was top notch. Live trumpets and a celestial chorus fit for a king who ruled by divine right — plus wonderful projections on sheer panels (and somehow even on the floor at times) — set a royal mood soon as the lights dimmed. The costumes were simple yet sumptuous and elegant. The acting was superb and my niggling fears of being bored were unfounded. I was drawn in immediately, and the unexpected moments of humor were fun. I am happy to say I am looking forward to the next three performances in King and Country. When I was debating about whether or not I would commit to seeing all four plays, I was a little worried that sitting through all of them might possibly be a bit of a durational performance of my own. I now have a hunch it will be many hours well spent. I will let you know either way!

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  6. Loved it! Although the staging was a bit wooden, and certain lines received laughter inappropriately (which was perhaps the audience's fault), the acting was top notch and allowed the poetry to shine through. Very much looking forward to the Henry plays later this month.

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    1. ha! Yes there were a few moments I was confused as to why the audience was laughing!

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  7. wonderful production spoilt only by latecomers entering continuously in the gallery from about 15 to 40 minutes into the production
    need to find some way in this modern age to cool the gallery a little!

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  8. We are huge fans of David Tennant, and had seen the production last year in a movie theater transmission. It was even better at BAM! Incredible piece of theatre!

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  9. The four RSC plays are outstanding, not only for the fine ensemble acting but for the magnificent painterly staging of every single scene. The musicians were also excellent, the singers in R2 most memorable, and all were to be commended. The direction was superb. I hope BAM will bring back the RSC, and there will be more plans to stage lesser known plays by Shakespeare (or less performed) and his contemporaries.

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  10. It's sad that the man in seat E110 at the 4/19 performance felt so entitled (and rude) that he illegally took photos with his cell phone throughout the performance disturbing those around him. What's with the cell phones ringing during performances (and one did, although not his); and what's with ignoring the PROHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHY OF ANY KIND? He should be barred from BAM in future.

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  11. Absolutely amazing! Great cast! David Tennant was phenomenal!

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  12. Extraordinary. Yes, I expected David Tennant to be wonderful - which he was. However, I was quite moved by the way Julian Glover delivered the "This England" speech, as well. Overall, great cast and great production.

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  13. On 4/19th I saw my first ever Shakespere play and it was phenomenal. David Tennant was amazing (as usual) as well as all of the cast. It was a wonderful well acted show.

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  14. I am a hugh fan of David Tennant and saw Richard II on 4/19th. My first Shakespere play. David was absolutely great along with the entire cast. The show was amazing

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  15. I really enjoyed this production. The entire cast was wonderful, and I especially enjoyed David Tennant.

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  16. This play just tore out my heart and stomped on it; it was without a doubt the best play I've ever seen--and it's so cool to be able to see the whole Henriad and draw comparisons and be able to pick apart language choices and staging echoes. Antony Sher was superb, especially if you like his character; David Tennant (!) was breathtaking, and made me cry.

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  17. We saw Richard II tonight and found it powerful and moving. Staging and acting and ensemble work were brilliant. David Tennant, spectacular, but others too, including, Oliver Ford Davies and Leigh Quinn.

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  18. The play was wonderful and David Tennant was wonderful in it. I am grateful to have gotten to see this in my home city and at such a reasonable price.

    However I would be remiss if I did not mention the awful seating in the balcony (possibly in the orchestra section but I do not know). The raised seats did help with viewing the stage but they were so tight to the rows in front of them that it made it nearly impossible to walk past others (or let others walk past you) in the rows. One had to hop down off the seat to let people go by — which is very difficult when there are people on either side of you — and even once you've done that, the space is so small, that you are getting VERY intimate with everyone that walks by. It was extremely uncomfortable. I hate to say it, but I will probably be avoiding this venue as much as possible for this reason.

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  19. I'd seen all four plays in cinematic releases, but seeing them months apart, they felt like separate productions, especially Richard II, which wasn't really meant to be continuous with the others at the time. It was wonderful to see all four plays back to back, with the alterations in the cast to make them flow together seamlessly. Jasper Britton was marvelous as Bolingbroke, bringing humor and nuance different from Nigel Lindsay's performance. Jasper Britton has a wonderfully expressive face and I thoroughly enjoyed his performance.

    Many scenes/lines were played more for humor in this production than before, which brought the tone closer to that of the Henrys.

    I have to say, though, I thought some of the broad humor in this version of the play took away from the poignancy and beauty of the overall production that was present in the recorded 2013 version. David Tennant's Richard this time appeared less vulnerable and more angry and contentious, which played well, just very differently, I thought. Also, the scene on the castle wall had a completely different feel with Sam Marks than with Olly Rix. I was more affected by the 2013 version. Previously, in that scene, my feelings toward Richard shifted and I felt his pain and his despair. In this one, he seemed more resolved yet still a bit defiant, nor broken.

    I absolutely adored the cellar scene from 2013. Not sure what changed in the current production, but it seemed less devastating emotionally when he spoke of wasting time. This Richard seemed stronger, more capable, and so just a bit less sympathetic in the end. This Bolingbroke seemed less culpable, also, a bit more like his actions might be justified, even if his stated intentions were slightly disingenuous.

    Overall, it was a thrilling production by an outstanding company. The best I've ever seen. Thanks so much for bringing them over!

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  20. To see Tennant perform on stage was an amazing event. But the best part about this was.....everyone was really on par with him!! Everyone did such an amazing job. As some commenters already said, it was kinda weird how the audience was laughing at certain points when it was such a serious moment. But elsewise, great performance. First professional Shakespeare play. I would enjoy seeing the RSC coming to New York more often. I would be willing to travel the 10 hours on bus to see them.

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