King Richard IIConsiders the theatrical fortunes of Richard II from its politically controversial beginnings on the Elizabethan and Restoration stage, to its various later interpretations responding to 19th- and 20th-century tastes and attitudes. A wide range of performances is documented and discussed. These illustrate the ways in which different theatres and companies have staged the play by cutting, restructuring or adding to Shakepeare's script to highlight spectacle, the personality of the King, the nature of authority and the place of Richard in the overall sweep of English history. |
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acting actors April audience audience's Avignon Bagot Benson Bishop of Carlisle Bogdanov Bushy ceremony characters Company's contemporary context costumes critics cycle deposition scene Director Duchess of Gloucester Duchess of York Duke of Aumerle Duke of Northumberland Duke of York Elizabethan stage emphasis England English Shakespeare Company ensured Flint Castle Hakola Henry Bolingbroke Henry Percy Hotspur Ian Richardson ibid interpretation John Barton John Gielgud John of Gaunt Kean Kean's Kiernander King Richard King's kingship London McKellen medieval Michael Mnouchkine Mnouchkine's narrative offered pageantry Pennington Pierce of Exton play's players political portrayal present prison production of Richard production's Queen quoted realisation reinforced response Richard and Bolingbroke Richard II Richard Pasco role Royal Shakespeare Theatre sense Shakespeare's plays Shakespeare's script Sir Pierce space spectacle Strehler style stylised Tate's television Théâtre du Soleil theatrical Thomas Mowbray throne tion tradition tragedy Trewin verse Vilar visual Wroughton's