REVIEW: DruidShakespeare’s ‘Richard III’ at White Light Festival
Photo: Aaron Monaghan stars as the title character in Richard III, produced by DruidShakespeare as part of Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival. Photo courtesy of Robbie Jack / Provided by Michelle Tabnick PR with permission.
NEW YORK — Richard III offers versatile actors one of the best villains in theatrical history. What William Shakespeare gave audiences was a portrait of a man starving for power, willing to resort to violence and daring to match any possible rival with cunning and cutthroat politics.
Ireland’s Druid theater company has imported their adaptation of the Bard’s Richard III for Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival. Performances of the DruidShakespeare production continue through Nov. 23 at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College in New York City.
At the center of the riveting production is Aaron Monaghan as the title character. The actor is well known to New York audiences thanks to Druid’s almost constant presence at Lincoln Center’s festivals, including last year’s Waiting for Godot. His performance as Richard is smart and sly, a wondrous feat of physicality and emotion that simultaneously scares and instigates laughter.
Leaning on two canes, this Richard III walks around the stage like a lurking ghost. If he’s not talking, he seems ever-present, and his ruthlessness is finely focused and showcased by director Garry Hynes with skill and strength.
The action of the historical drama takes play on a stage bedecked with large, ceiling-high panels that swing open as doors. The ground is covered in an earthen gravel that is torn apart and kicked around. A gravesite is prominently featured downstage center, an ominous foreshadowing that is only matched by the suspended skull dangling over the proceedings.
Francis O’Connor and Doreen McKenna’s costume designs are a wonderful combination of period chic and flashy exuberance. As Richard walks around the stage, his shiny garb twinkles, only outdone by the regal clothes of Queen Margaret (Marie Mullen), Queen Elizabeth (Jane Brennan) and the Duchess of York (Ingrid Craigie).
From the get-go of this production, it becomes obvious that the cast, under the helm of Hynes, are most interested in showing the unhealthy yearning for power and how corruptive and corrosive its near-supernatural draw can have on an individual.
Richard envies the crown of his brother, Edward (Bosco Hogan), and the plotting begins almost immediately. If anything (or any brother, such as Clarence) gets in the way, Richard has no problem dispatching his perceived enemy. Bloodlines don’t matter to him; He is most interested in self-preservation and guaranteed ascendancy to the crown.
Like many of Shakespeare’s stories, an internal play is presented as a pivotal moment in the narrative. This production-within-a-production, plus other factors, leads to Richard getting what he always desired: the kingdom. Thinking he would become a benevolent monarch after the gold is laid upon his head is quickly forgotten as Richard continues his rampage, even more paranoid than when he was in pursuit of the top position.
All of this drama is brilliantly played by Monaghan, who never drops his devilish charm or darkly humorous side. He is a complete villain, but one who uses the guise of a caring human to convince others and ultimately receive what he wants. It’s a masterful performance of deception and dominance, one that allows the audience to see the “performance” of Richard III with the simultaneous “behind-the-scenes” machinations of Richard III.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Richard III, presented by DruidShakespeare and directed by Garry Hynes, continues through Nov. 23 at the Gerald W. Lynch Theatre at John Jay College. The play is part of the White Light Festival at Lincoln Center and stars Aaron Monaghan. Click here for more information and tickets. Rating: 
