“Richard III” ranks up there with the most mischievous and nefarious villains of history and literature and he’s made his way to the Greer Garson Theatre.
The first production of the 2014 season, Shakespeare’s telling of Richard III’s short-lived but dramatic reign of England in 1483, brought out the best in SMU graduate and undergraduate actors in Wednesday’s opening night.
Though the actors started off quietly, the show only grew stronger and stronger as the cast became more comfortable with their first, full live audience.
This was no ordinary reenactment of Shakespeare’s historical play, but rather a conglomeration of costumes, voices and props that brought the script into the 21st century. The casts’ lines were true to the play, but their delivery, actions and mannerisms begged to differ.
With a butt slap here and a fist bump there, the production took liberties with the play that, strange as it may sound, really worked.
All of these antics were grounded in the actions of one Russell Jonas, who encapsulated the trickery of Richard III in the role of the title character. Jonas’ Richard was a Moriarty, a Jafar and every sociopathic villain rolled into one.
His ticks, his occasional falsettos and comical voices, and his dominance on stage stole the show. In a play where attention to detail and wordplay is imperative, Jonas was able to cue the Shakespearean double entendres with a change of tone, eliciting laughs from the audience.
With an impressive set and supporting cast, the production shines in the Greer Garson. The costuming though, steals the spotlight in nearly every scene. From Project Runway worthy gowns to WWI airmen attire, the play drew inspiration from every era under the sun.
While this proved beautiful on stage, it also led to a bit of confusion. With no foundation in any one era, past or present, the play’s discontinuity was distracting. With daggers in one hand and tommy guns in the other, ball gowns on the women and leather jackets on the men, the decision to mix and match took away from the incredible acting and staging of “Richard III.”
Honorable mention goes to Jakeem Powell, Caitlin Galloway and Synthia Green whose brief but powerful moments on stage culminated in a nightmare sequence worthy of the highest praise. As two princes, Galloway and Green seemingly effortlessly pulled off a difficult task: truly embodying the mannerisms of young boys.
Directed by Associate Theatre Professor Michael Connolly, the show’s actors overcome any disjointedness between their words and their attire, bringing the audience into the dark world of murder and intrigue that surrounds the life and death of Richard III.
The play will be performed Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Student tickets are $7 and are worth the price. For more information call 214-768-2787.
