DRAMATIS PERSONAE
RICHARD: He is Edward IV’s brother.
His height is medium. He is strong and deformed and walks with lack of balance.
His voice tone is deep and he talks with authority. His corporal expression is slow
and imperfect. His form to dress is similar to Medieval Age. To speak he seems
serious and when he is talking, he looks safe in himself. His relationship with
performers is strained and distant. He seems like a pitiless, arrogant and
despicable person.
QUEEN ELIZABETH: She is Edward IV’s wife. Her
physical appearance is strong. She has dark hair and her height is medium. Her
voice tone is firm and tenacious like a queen, but in some scenes her voice is
weak and sad. She is wearing a large red dress and her form to speak is safe
and fearful at the same time. She is friendly with Hastings and Lady Anne and
hostile with Ratcliff, Buckingham and Richard.
LADY ANNE: She is the widow of Prince Edward.
She looks a sensitive and sad woman, distressed because of her father and her
husband’s death. She is young, beautiful and slim. She has long hair and
is wearing a handkerchief in her hand. Her voice is sweet and strong and she is
moving nervous around the stage. Her relationship with Richard is hostile, but,
finally, she is forced to get married to him.
BUCKINGHAM: He is a Richard’s allied. He
looks a slim man. He has blond hair and is wearing baggy trousers and a sword.
The most characteristic of this performer is that the character is performed by
a woman. In my opinion, it is an excellent performance. His form to speak is
something vain and is subordinated to Richard’s orders.
RATCLIFF: He is other Richard’s
allied. He is wearing dark clothes and his height is normal. He looks a serious
and aggressive person that only has a faith relationship with Richard. The most
important is that he is the killer of Clarence.
HASTINGS: He is the Prime Minister of the
Crown. He is small, chubby and bald. His voice tone is safe and calm. He is the
most coherent and reasonable character. Finally, he is killed because of
refusing to participate in the plans of Richard.
RICHMOND: He is Duke of Richmond. He is
tall, slim and attractive man. He appears at the end of the play disembarking
in Wales to demand the Crown.
CLARENCE: He is Edward IV’s brother.
He is wearing worn – out clothes because he has been excluded in the
tower. He is killed by Ratcliff in the bath while he is having a bath.
LADY MARGARET: She is the widow of Henry VI. She
is an old and learned woman. She speaks clearly and warns of what is going to
occur. The relationship with the characters is negative. She hates them.
SPACE
It is an only space. The changes of scenes are marked by light. Several
spaces are represented: the palace where we can find the Queen Elizabeth sat in
her throne, it is also represented a funeral, a bath where Clarence is having a
bath, a council where they meet to plan the coronation of Richard and the camp
where Richard is killed by Richmond.
ILLUMINATION
It is very important in this play. Light is subdued, therefore, it
creates a tension atmosphere during all the play. Light marks changes of scenes
and they are of different colours. There are a lot of spotlights. Four from
them are which illuminate the characters.
COSTUME
It is historical, elegant and real. In my opinion, costume is very well
designed. It is appropriated to these characters.
ATREZZO
We can see on stage a throne, a bath, a large red carpet, a big
candelabrum, a small bed where is transported the corpse of Lady Anne’s
husband and a guillotine.
AMBIENT OF THEATRE
Audience seems to be attentive. They follow the play with attention and
interest. A peculiarity of this performance is surprise of some members of
audience when they see Clarence naked. From my point of view, music and
illumination get to create a very comfortable ambient.
PERSONAL OPINION
I consider that this play is a good performance of this historical fact:
the coronation of Richard III. The part of the play that I like more is the
murder of Clarence. I think is one of the best performances of the play. The
dialogue between Clarence and Ratcliff seemed to me very showy. Other very
interest aspect is the character of Buckingham performed by a woman. It is an
excellent performance.
To sump up, all performers make a good play which merits to be seen.