Long before I became interested in the real Richard III, I enjoyed going to Shakespearean plays, and a long standing favorite was his play about Richard III. This Shakespearean Richard was the arch-villain I loved to hate. The play is brilliant. And while the Richard in the play bears no resemblance to the real medieval monarch, I have to thank Shakespeare for writing such a memorable work that Richard is alive in our minds more than 500 years after he was killed in battle. Because Richard reigned for a little over two years (June 26, 1483 to August 22, 1485) I firmly believe that without this play, Richard III would be a forgotten footnote in our books on English history.
About eight years ago, I read a historical fiction about the real
Richard III—Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman. Because her depiction of
Richard was so different from Shakespeare’s, I read all I could find on him and
soon became convinced that the play was not about Richard III, but that he was
an allegory for the politics of Shakespeare’s time. That Queen Elizabeth’s
grandfather, Henry Tudor, defeated Richard, probably helped the play’s
political acceptance.
A few weeks ago, Emily Mattina, the Artistic Director for
Shakesperience, contacted me because this year they are giving a performance of
this play and Emily knows that the real Richard was far different from
Shakespeare’s portrayal. While she is not changing the character for the play,
she is introducing the audience to the concept that the real king, though
flawed as all humans are, was essentially a good person and a good king. For
example, one of the things that most impressed me about
Richard III was his affect was on the justice system when, for example, he
enacted laws where people who were charged could post bail, that one couldn't
be held without charge, fixing the corrupted jury system, and protected
property rights, writing that "the law shall cease to be an instrument of
oppression and extortion."
Shakesperience is performing at the end of the
rainbow, Waterbury Connecticut's Library Park, this weekend, June 28 - July 1,
2012. Performances of Richard III are Thursday at 7pm Friday & Saturday at
8pm & Sunday at 2pm. Library Park is located at Meadow & Grand Streets
Parking is free. Admission is Free! Donations to support Shakesperience are
gratefully accepted—suggested amount is $15.
Friday 6-7pm with Shakesperience’s Artistic Director Emily
Mattina for Richard III: Fact vs. Fiction with Joan Szechtman, author of This
Time and Loyalty Binds Me. Books are available for purchase and Joan will
autograph your copy.
