Richard III

Author: Shakespeare, William

Title: Richard III

Theatre Company: Arden Producciones

Director: Chema Cardeña

Cast: Juan Carlos Garés as Richard III, Amparo Vayá as Queen Elizabeth, Carol Linuesa as Buckin-gham, Vicente Pastor as Ratcliff, Esther López as Lady Anne, Ismael Carretero as Clarence and Rich-mond, Chema Cardeña as Hastings, Laura Useleti as Queen Margaret, and Alfonso Tadeo as scene manage.

Date and place of representation: From 14 October to 6 November 2005, in theatre “L’ Altre Es-pai”.

Dramatis Personae:

   -Richard: He is self-centred, eccentric, persevering, jealous, perverse, insatiable of power, little graceful physically, with a useless arm and lame. With a heavy and with safety in himself voice.

-Ratcliff: is a loyal footman of Richard, as despicable as his master. He enjoys making an end of lives Richard says him; he has cold blood for doing all does. A helpful voice, very vindictive.

-Queen Elizabeth: was Edward’s wife, who is Richard’s brother. She has patience and good sense. With an acuteness and doubtful voice, besides tired and insecure.

-Buckingham: he is Cousin of Richard, he helps him with his different faces and his gift for words for become king. For his services he should receive something, that never he will have. With an acuteness voice.

-Lady Anne: is previous King’s wife and Hastings’s niece. Too speaker and too easily of convincing, she is an easy catch. With a sweet and submissive voice.

-Clarence: he is second brother of Richard. He is enthusiastic and too credulous, he thinks his brother Richard will save him when this has been who has put him in that bundle. With a poetic and hopeful voice.

-Richmond: is France’s King. He is very powerful; he will end with this madness. With a warrior and brave’s voice.

-Hastings: he is a noble on the side of Richard. With a heavy and calm voice.

-Queen Margaret:  prophet or witch, she disparages every people and fall for their own miserliness and greediness. With a voice full of hate.

-Space:

    There was four different planes depending where actors were it focus here:

           -First plane was principal, where actors addressed face to face to public, like if this would act.

              -Second and Third plane normal distance, public is public, actors are who act.

             -Fourth plane where it heard voices, play background that accompany actors for create some special situation (ex: when Richard begins to be mad and heard voices of all dead).

 -Illumination:

 There were amongst two and eight focus on, depending of the emphasis it would want give at scene, tragedy, worry, sadness… They were whites, blues, yellows, and reds.

-Clothes and atrezzo:

   Clothes were historical, elegant and real without simplicity.

Decoration was simple; scarcely there were one, possibly for not taking away importance at play. They reused same object repeatedly, first as a bed where lie dead husband, then as a bed for Richard, later as a big cross, a simple throne… always with roller for a best and fast transportation.

-Atmosphere:

         Public was attentive and quiet, waiting for spectacle. At begins play every people are in silent, listening and perceiving all. Until the end where people exploited in applauses (the best moment without doubt).

-Opinion:  

I  don’t have experience for think if this play is really good or not, nut as is mi opinion…I think had been brilliant. Representation had been very good, it can see effort done by actors and time spends in that. Decoration was not necessary for excite public, these times one can appreciate a good play, a good characters and a good representation. Only one problem, variety of characters can tie.