R³’s urban Richard: still Shakespeare’s most notorious villain!

Release Date: 10/19/2001. Expired: 11/17/2001

“A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!” shouts evil King Richard in the last scene of William Shakespeare’s representation of the final battle of the Wars of the Roses. The story of Shakespeare’s most notorious villain comes to life at The Renaissance Center Saturday, Nov. 17, as The Renaissance Repertory Company presents R³, an original stage adaptation of The Tragedy of King Richard III.

Adapted for the stage by Hal Partlow and directed by Partlow and Kim Leavitt, R³ is the final chapter in Shakespeare’s account of England’s 35-year-long civil war the playwright began in the three parts of Henry VI. Richard, the evil hunchback who loomed larger and larger in the previous plays, now suddenly towers above the action and dominates it. For that reason, R³ becomes a melodrama of glitter and violence as vigorous and bloody as its chief character.

“However, this adaptation focuses on the Bard’s more subtle sub-plot,” Partlow said, “as we examine the power struggles Richard engages in with the women of his life: his mother, his wife, and his fiercest opponent - his sister-in-law Queen Elizabeth.”

Literary critics agree that Shakespeare’s king is one of the most compelling characters ever created, although the Richard portrayed in the play is fictional and bears little resemblance to the historic king. Shakespeare chose to heighten and embellish many details of Richard’s personality and the nature of his reign to add dramatic tension to his play. The playwright achieved this by intensifying the three main explanations for Richard’s behavior. They are: political ambition, his psychological state and the superstitious climate in which he lived. Politically Richard is a dictatorial schemer who sets out to destroy his rivals. Psychologically he mixes courage and genius with hate, while metaphysically he is seen to represent the devil. Richard’s behaviors then catapult the action onto a path where characters become unwilling pawns in his bloody game.

“Our production is contemporary, it’s urban, very fast-paced and very much on the cutting edge,” Partlow said.

He went on to emphasize that this specific adaptation will appeal to all members of the audience because it is true to the Bard’s intent.

“The language is absolutely Shakespeare’s: Both Kim [Leavitt] and I are purists when it comes to that. And the moral of the play is the same one Shakespeare created 500 years ago.”

The moral? Good conquers evil.

“We’re reaching out to contemporary audience members by presenting something in the style, or medium, they’re familiar with,” Partlow said. “The concept behind our production will help those not familiar with this specific play by making it extremely accessible. So, instead of a Richard in a tunic and hose, the audience will see him in leather pants and a t-shirt.

“The costumes have been painstakingly designed to represent each character’s personality and predicament within a contemporary setting. The set reinforces this concept by stripping the production of medieval castles and replacing them with the bare necessities. The play promises to entice the audience’s sense of sight. Our designers, Robert Cooper (set), Tom Stanziano (technical) and Amy Arrington (costumes), have brought together a very brooding picture. Their combined talents in scene design, lighting and costuming are tremendous,” the director said.

Members of the Repertory Company appearing in R³ include Amy Arrington, Jeremy John Evans, Greg Frey, Alix McEachern Jones, Partlow and Robyn Smith. Jan Y. Dial, director of Drama and Theatre at the Center, and Brad Diamond, director of Project Development, round out the cast.

R³ will be presented for one night only on Saturday, May 11, at 7:00 p.m. in the Performance Hall. Tickets are $10 adults, $8 seniors and $5 children under 13.

R³ is one of three plays the Repertory Company is offering this school year for field trips to The Renaissance Center. Also being presented are It’s Greek to Me and Mother Goose Mayhem.

For tickets or more information call The Renaissance Center at (615)740-5600.

The Renaissance Center is located at 855 Highway 46 South in Dickson, just 35 minutes west of Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172.

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