Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Danai Gurira scintillates as RICHARD III in Shakespeare in the Park’s tonally unstable production

• By drediman
• July 13, 2022
• No Comments

Last week at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park, I attended Free Shakespeare in the Park’s latest offering Ricard III (the production officially opened earlier this week). The staging is helmed by Robert O’Hara, who has assembled an admirably diverse cast and directs Shakespeare’s venomous history play with a giddy and brash modern streak despite the stylized period costuming (courtesy of Dede Ayite).

I’ll admit that sometimes the contemporary sensibility clashes with the Bard’s language – sometimes uncomfortably – resulting in a tonally unstable rendition of the play. But at the heart of the show is Dana Gurira’s scintillating performance as the notoriously villainous titular king. It’s a high octane performance that doesn’t shy away from camp and grandiosity. Indeed, she takes the role by the reins, delivering a forceful, delectably vicious performance that ultimately steers the production clear of serious danger.

Unsurprisingly, only occasionally do her fellow cast mates hit the same delectable balance between camp, charisma, and drama (e.g., the typically wonderful Ali Stroker seems simply lost as Lady Anne). As a result, Mr. O’Hara’s staging comes in and out of focus as it unfolds. But despite my reservations about the production, I’d like to point out that attending a summertime show at The Delacorte – particularly when the weather cooperates (like it did on the evening I saw the play) – remains one of the most magical of New York traditions.

SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED

RICHARD III
Off-Broadway, Play
2 hours, 40 minutes (with one intermission)
The Public Theater‘s Free Shakespeare in the Park at The Delacorte Theater
Through July 17