Joel and I had the pleasure of attending the second-to-last performance of the Woodward Shakespeare Festival 2009 production of Richard III. We have kept missing the previous performances, (I’m soooo bummed I miss As You Like It earlier this summer!) but we finally got around to attending. I took my camera (of course) and got a few shots, but they were more snapshots than anything, so forgive me any poor composition and exposure; the lighting really was that awful (for pictures), though great for the stage. LOL
- Richard woos Lady Anne
Lisi Drionne (Anne) did an amazing job of showing indignation as Richard wooed her despite having been an instrument in the deaths of her husband and father. The urn she is holding represents her husband’s corpse; she was burying him as Richard came to woo her.
- Queen Elizabeth mourns Husband and Sons
Queen Elizabeth, as played by Erica Riggs, went from cool refinement to empassioned mourning superbly. Her scene where Richard asks to woo her daughter Princess Elizabeth (he was her husband’s brother) was a perfect balance of horror at uncle-coming-for-niece, pure hatred for his part in the deaths of her husband and sons, and complete disdain for the man himself.
- Richard is Crowned King
- Lord Buckingham rues helping Richard before execution
I thought that Gabriela Lawson did an absolutely amazing job as Buckingham, she had the haughtiness, the action, the drama, so fun to watch!
A murdered Queen Anne (ghost) curses Richard in a dream, blesses Richmond. Richmond prays for divine assistance in overthrowing Richard. Richmond with his love, Princess Elizabeth. Doesn’t she look like she could be Natalie Portman’s sister?
- Richmond fights (and defeats) Richard.
- The Cast.
- Jaguar Bennett, Richard, takes a bow.
We had SO much fun this year, and will definitely attend both Merchant of Venice and King Lear next year.
Wow, you’re allowed to take photos at your Shakespeare in the Park? They don’t allow photography at our productions here in LA. Which is always a bummer, but I do understand it. Looks like a great show- those are some serious costumes and sets for a park production!
Yeah, just from our seats without any flash etc. I took most of these from my shoulder, so I wasn’t moving around/putting the camera in anyone’s line of sight.
Our production is quite large, it’s a permanent stage etc.
Wow, Princess Elizabeth does look a lot like Natalie Portman.
Love the costumes! I would love a dress like that!