This play is three times better than 'Richard I'
William Koester
Issue date: 11/2/09 Section: Entertainment
Since opening in 1999, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater has been a central fixture of Navy Pier. The group has put on a variety of productions over the years, from Shakespeare's classics to relatively recent works. At just over 500 seats, the venue is more intimate than most live theater.
The CST kicked off its 2009-2010 season on Sept. 23. The first play of the season is Shakespeare's tragedy "Richard III."
The play is set against the backdrop of the "War of the Roses." Prior to the play, the title character, played by Wallace Acton, has helped his brother Edward IV of York (Matt DeCaro) usurp the throne of England. As the plot unfolds, Richard puts into motion a grand scheme to become king himself.
Eventually, Richard manipulates and murders his way to the throne, but his own arrogance and paranoia bring upon his downfall. Faced with both mistrust from his allies and a rebel invasion, Richard's reign begins to unravel.
The historical backdrop to the story, as well as the relationships between the figures portrayed, is very tangled. Indeed, if it were not for the program, which features some historical context and a family tree that links all the characters, many would be hopelessly lost. Even with said program, it's somewhat hard to remember who's who.
At times, the play itself is also a little hard to follow. Several characters only appear in one or two scenes, and some major plot points happen offstage. One could easily miss something important if they did not pay attention.
If the viewer does pay attention though, they are in for a treat. The CST always puts on a good show, and "Richard III" is no exception.
The CST performs some Shakespearean plays traditionally, while other times updating the production for a contemporary audience. "Richard III" does a little of both, featuring Old English costumes and the traditional empty stage, while adding some interesting modern-day props and hard rock music in between scenes. It's a nice balance that makes for an entertaining production.
In the title role, Wallace Acton delivers an inspiring performance. The real Richard III was said to be a hunchback and was written in the play as such, though in this production, Acton just looks like he has a pillow tucked in his costume. Despite obviously not looking crippled, he is absolutely perfect at capturing the essence of the character. He is so slimy and reprehensible, yet the audience enjoys every second that he is on stage.
The rest of the cast is also good. Sometimes they overact, but in live theater, it is not necessarily a bad thing. Surprisingly, the play is also very funny at parts; for all the scheming and murdering, there is quite a bit of black humor and witty dialogue.
"Richard III" runs through Nov. 22 at Navy Pier. Anybody looking for an enjoyable afternoon or evening in the city can do no wrong with this play.
The CST kicked off its 2009-2010 season on Sept. 23. The first play of the season is Shakespeare's tragedy "Richard III."
The play is set against the backdrop of the "War of the Roses." Prior to the play, the title character, played by Wallace Acton, has helped his brother Edward IV of York (Matt DeCaro) usurp the throne of England. As the plot unfolds, Richard puts into motion a grand scheme to become king himself.
Eventually, Richard manipulates and murders his way to the throne, but his own arrogance and paranoia bring upon his downfall. Faced with both mistrust from his allies and a rebel invasion, Richard's reign begins to unravel.
The historical backdrop to the story, as well as the relationships between the figures portrayed, is very tangled. Indeed, if it were not for the program, which features some historical context and a family tree that links all the characters, many would be hopelessly lost. Even with said program, it's somewhat hard to remember who's who.
At times, the play itself is also a little hard to follow. Several characters only appear in one or two scenes, and some major plot points happen offstage. One could easily miss something important if they did not pay attention.
If the viewer does pay attention though, they are in for a treat. The CST always puts on a good show, and "Richard III" is no exception.
The CST performs some Shakespearean plays traditionally, while other times updating the production for a contemporary audience. "Richard III" does a little of both, featuring Old English costumes and the traditional empty stage, while adding some interesting modern-day props and hard rock music in between scenes. It's a nice balance that makes for an entertaining production.
In the title role, Wallace Acton delivers an inspiring performance. The real Richard III was said to be a hunchback and was written in the play as such, though in this production, Acton just looks like he has a pillow tucked in his costume. Despite obviously not looking crippled, he is absolutely perfect at capturing the essence of the character. He is so slimy and reprehensible, yet the audience enjoys every second that he is on stage.
The rest of the cast is also good. Sometimes they overact, but in live theater, it is not necessarily a bad thing. Surprisingly, the play is also very funny at parts; for all the scheming and murdering, there is quite a bit of black humor and witty dialogue.
"Richard III" runs through Nov. 22 at Navy Pier. Anybody looking for an enjoyable afternoon or evening in the city can do no wrong with this play.
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