Sunday, November 20, 2011

Quick Hit Theater Review: Richard II -- The Pearl

From L to R: Sean McNall (Richard II), Jolly Abraham (Harry Percy), and Grant Goodman (Henry Bolingbroke). Photo: Gregory Costanzo
Richard II
By William Shakespeare
Directed by J.R. Sullivan
The Pearl Theatre Company

Summary:
Shakepeare's verse-laden play about 14th-century King Richard II (Sean McNall) who starts by making a poor decision while deciding a charge of treason brought by his cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, the Duke of Hereford (Grant Goodman), against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mobray (Chris Mixon) and ends up by losing his crown. A series of plots and rebellions undermine his power and that of Bolingbroke, who usurps him, as men vie for control of " this earth, this realm, this England."

Highlights:
Jolly Abraham shines as Richard's queen and in a second role of Harry Percy. (a number of the ensemble, six of whom are members of the Pearl's resident acting company, play dual roles across genders in the production). Sullivan's tight direction creates some vivid visuals. Carol Schultz as the Duchess of York shows comedic skill in a scene where she pleads for the life of her son, the Duke of Aumerle (Wayne T. Carr) who has plotted against the king, a crime for which his father, the Duke of York (Bill Christ) wants him punished. Harry Feiner's simple set quickly conveys time and place as well as providing a second platform level for action in the tiny stage. Lighting designer Stephen Petrilli contributes some nifty stained glass and other (and stairs tuck neatly underneath the platform). Martha Hally's minimal costumes convey period and character well and the mood is enhanced by music and sound effects (Jane Shaw, sound design).

Lowlights:
Not one of Shakespeare's more interesting plays, it feels like a very long history lesson at two hours and 50 minutes (with one intermission). This Richard seems a little too weak and eager to shed tears. Folks at intermission were asking who the characters were and how they were related to each other. A helpful synopsis of the plot is included in the program, but the large number of characters (more than 30) and the doubling of roles apparently is confusing for many.

Information:
Richard II runs through Dec. 24 at New York City Center Stage II, 131 West 55th St. (between 6th and 7th avenues). Tickets can be purchased by calling 212-581-1212 or online at www.NYCityCenter.org.

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No notes. Enjoy!
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Our reviews are professional reviews written without a religious bias. At the end of them, you can find a listing of language, content or theological issues that Christians might want to know about when deciding which shows to see.

** Mature indicates that the show has posted an advisory because of content. Usually this means I would recommend no one under the age of 16 attend.

Theater Critic Lauren Yarger

Theater Critic Lauren Yarger

My Bio

Lauren Yarger has written, directed and produced numerous shows and special events for both secular and Christian audiences. She co-wrote a Christian musical version of “A Christmas Carol” which played to sold-out audiences of over 3,000 in Vermont and was awarded the Vermont Bessie (theater and film awards) for “People’s Choice for Theatre.” She also has written two other dinner theaters, sketches for church services and devotions for Christian artists. Her play concept, "From Reel to Real: The Jennifer O'Neill Story" was presented as part of the League of professional Theatre Women's Julia's reading Room Series in New York. Shifting from reviewing to producing, Yarger owns Gracewell Productions, which produced the Table Reading Series at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT. She trained for three years in the Broadway League’s Producer Development Program, completed the Commercial Theater Institute's Producing Intensive and other training and produced a one-woman musical about Mary Magdalene that toured nationally and closed with an off-Broadway run. She was a Fellow at the National Critics Institute at the O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT. She wrote reviews of Broadway and Off-Broadway theater (the only ones you can find in the US with an added Christian perspective) at http://reflectionsinthelight.blogspot.com/.

She is editor of The Connecticut Arts Connection (http://ctarts.blogspot.com), an award-winning website featuring theater and arts news for the state. She was a contributing editor for BroadwayWorld.com. She previously served as theater reviewer for the Manchester Journal-Inquirer, Connecticut theater editor for CurtainUp.com and as Connecticut and New York reviewer for American Theater Web.

She is a Co-Founder of the Connecticut Chapter of the League of Professional Theatre Women. She is a former vice president and voting member of The Drama Desk.

She is a freelance writer and playwright (member Dramatists Guild of America). She is a member if the The Outer Critics Circle (producer of the annual awards ceremony) and a member of The League of Professional Theatre Women, serving as Co-Founder of the Connecticut Chapter. Yarger was a book reviewer for Publishers Weekly A former newspaper editor and graduate of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, Yarger also worked in arts management for the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and served for nine years as the Executive Director of Masterwork Productions, Inc. She lives with her husband in West Granby, CT. They have two adult children.

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All material is copyright 2008- 2024 by Lauren Yarger. Reviews and articles may not be reprinted without permission. Contact reflectionsinthelight@gmail.com

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Key to Content Notes:

God's name taken in vain -- means God or Jesus is used in dialogue without speaking directly to or about them.

Language -- means some curse words are used. "Minor" usually means the words are not too strong or that it only occurs once or twice throughout the show.

Strong Language -- means some of the more heavy duty curse words are used.

Nudity -- means a man or woman's backside, a man's lower front or a woman's front are revealed.

Scantily clad -- means actors' private areas are technically covered, but I can see a lot of them.

Sexual Language -- means the dialogue contains sexually explicit language but there's no action.

Sexual Activity -- means a man and woman are performing sexual acts.

Adultery -- Means a married man or woman is involved sexually with someone besides their spouse. If this is depicted with sexual acts on stage, the list would include "sexual activity" as well.

Sex Outside of Marriage -- means a man and woman are involved sexually without being married. If this is depicted sexually on stage, the list would include "sexual activity" as well.

Homosexuality -- means this is in the show, but not physically depicted.

Homosexual activity -- means two persons of the same sex are embracing/kissing. If they do more than that, the list would include "sexual activity" as well.

Cross Dresser -- Means someone is dressing as the opposite sex. If they do more than that on stage the listing would include the corresponding "sexual activity" and/or "homosexual activity" as well.

Cross Gender -- A man is playing a female part or a woman is playing a man's part.

Suggestive Dancing -- means dancing contains sexually suggestive moves.

Derogatory (category added Fall 2012) Language or circumstances where women or people of a certain race are referred to or treated in a negative and demeaning manner.

Other content matters such as torture, suicide, or rape will be noted, with details revealed only as necessary in the review itself.

The term "throughout" added to any of the above means it happens many times throughout the show.

Reviewing Policy

I receive free seats to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows made available to all voting members of the Outer Critics Circle. Journalistically, I provide an unbiased review and am under no obligation to make positive statements. Sometimes shows do not make tickets available to reviewers. If these are shows my readers want to know about I will purchase a ticket. If a personal friend is involved in a production, I'll let you know, but it won't influence a review. If I feel there is a conflict, I won't review their portion of the production.

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