Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – DruidShakespeare’s RICHARD III is lucid, diabolical, and one of the most thrillingly entertaining stagings of the play I’ve seen

• By drediman
• November 11, 2019
• No Comments

Siobhán Cullen and Aaron Monaghan in DruidShakespeare’s production of “Richard III”, an offering of Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival, at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater. Photo by Robbie Jack.

Corey Stoll’s superb Macbeth for minimalist director John Doyle at Classic Stage Company isn’t the only Shakespearean villain baring his fangs this fall in New York. He faces stiff competition from the exhilarating Richard III of Aaron Monaghan, who leads the DruidShakespeare production of Richard III, an offering at this year’s White Light Festival at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater. With this production, Tony-winning director Garry Hines continues her stylish take on the “War of the Roses” (she staged a memorable “Henriad” in New York four years ago, also at the same theater).

Ms. Hynes is no stranger to grim, violent tales, having nurtured plays like Martin McDonagh’s The Beauty Queen of Leenane and The Cripple of Inishmaan to great acclaim. In fact, I would argue that she’s in her comfort zone when she’s depicting the extremities of the human experience. Her Richard III – which she’s suggestively set in a terrifyingly claustrophobic, dirt-floored torture chamber – is lucid, diabolical, and one of the most thrillingly entertaining stagings of the play I’ve seen. She also imbues the production with an intoxicating couture aesthetic (courtesy of designer Francis O’Connor) that allures the eyes. Indeed, the whole thing has been directed with the unabashed sensationalist sensibility of a Hollywood pulp fiction blockbuster.

For this DruidShakespeare production, Ms. Hynes has assembled a beautifully balanced cast, whose sense of collective storytelling and forward momentum is exceptional (the running time of three meaty hours flew by!). With the exception of a few main players, the members of the company do a wonderful job of doubling/tripling up roles, skillfully etching a rotating door of distinct characterizations. In the titular role, Mr. Monaghan gives a commanding performance in every sense.  It’s a spectacularly physical portrayal (ironically) that’s also emotionally spot on. He deliciously wrings for our edification all the dark humor, ruthlessness, and chaos in Richard’s psyche with the precision and prowess of an Olympic-level athlete. Truly impressive work.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

RICHARD III
Off-Broadway, Play
DruidShakespeare / White Light Festival / Gerald W. Lynch Theater
3 hours (with one intermission)
Through November 23