“I am determined to prove a villain.”
— Richard III
As any actor worth his salt knows, playing romantic leads is all well and good, but if you really want to have the audience in the palm of your hand, you have to be a bad guy. William Shakespeare was well aware of this, and he created some of the greatest heavies in the history of theater: Tybalt in “Romeo and Juliet,” Edmund in “King Lear,” Lady Macbeth in “Macbeth” and Iago in “Othello.”
However, the piece de resistance among Shakespearian villains is, without a doubt, the title role in “Richard III,” which is currently being depicted by Geraint Wyn Davies in director Michael Kahn’s outstanding production now playing at The Shakespeare Theatre Company.
Unlike most of Shakespeare’s histories, the plot of “Richard III” is incredibly simple and straightforward. Richard is determined to become the King of England, so he arranges to have the half-dozen people ahead of him in the line of succession systematically bumped off. (Two of his victims are little boys, which will give you an idea of just how dastardly Richard is.)
The thing that makes the part of Richard an actor’s dream is how much fun he has being evil. He takes the audience in to his confidence from the very beginning, relishing every detail of his diabolic schemes. When he addresses his family and colleagues in person, butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. As soon as they’re offstage, he discloses to us how he looks forward to ensuring their demise.
Under Kahn’s expert guidance, the supporting cast, which includes some of the Washington area’s most talented artists, such asFloyd King, Edward Gero and Andrew Long, are all superb, but let’s face it, any production of “Richard III” rises or falls on the strength of its lead, and Wyn Davies proves to be deliciously malignant in the role.
Kudos also to Charlie Morrison’s lighting and Lee Savage’s imposingly askew set that would have been right at home in a 1930s black-and-white Warner Bros. prison picture.
According to historians, the real Richard III was nowhere near the monster that the Bard portrayed him as, but who cares? For sheer entertainment, you can’t beat a great villain, and they don’t come any better than Shakespeare Theatre Company’s “Richard III.”
If you go …
» “Richard III,” through March 18
Venue: Shakespeare Theatre Company, 450 7th St. NW, Washington
Performances: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays; 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
Tickets: $30 to $76.25
More info: 202-547-1122 or www.shakespearetheatre.org
