This was a very big production and they definitely brought out the big guns. Well known actors, authentic costumes and a grand stage. I cannot help but compare the production of Coriolanus I saw last year at the Donmar Warehouse. Where that was intimate and close, this was a King on his podium addressing his people.
I was sat in the balcony, it is high up but to be honest you didn't feel that far away from the action. Shakespeare is full of grand gestures sweeping across the stage, so missing out the more subtle gestures and expressions up close is ok. The stage is very wide so the audience is not very deep. I would have liked to see the costumes closer, the gowns looked beautiful. King Richards gowns flowed beautifully behind him, one had flashed of cerise blue from under layers as he walked. I also liked the Lady in waiting's head pieces the actresses were light on their feet and floated after their Queen.
It is very heavy formal play, I knew the rough storyline but I still had to really concentrate on the speech. There was a lot of long speeches full of smilies, rhyme couplets and prose. Being incredibly warm up in the ceiling my attention to wane a few times and I just looked at the set instead. It nice to see a performance without a revolving stage, scene lot of those last year.
The death scene - sorry SPOLIERS was very clever with use of reflection and part of the floor rising up. Chained to the floor in rags, the king had fallen very far.
David Tennant without fail brilliantly portrayed Richard II, the vain self-righteousness King who fell from power. Tennant highlighted the vulnerability of the character with child like manners. The torn gown in the last two Acts were reminiscent of a child's in grown up clothing.
So, that looks to be it for now with live performances for me for a while. I booked tickets with friends to see performances at The Globe for the summer. I am sure it won't be too long till something else comes along though :)
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