RICHARD III (URI Theatre Department)

January 1, 2020February 23, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

URI Theatre Department’s first show of 2020 is “Richard III” by William Shakespeare. Richard III is an historical play by Shakespeare written in 1592 and is his second longest play after Hamlet. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and the subsequent short reign of Richard III of England from 1483 to 85. He had a glamour of evil about himself that led him to do unspeakable harm to others including women and children that happened to get his way. Richard would convince people to do his bidding. Before having them offed, he’d flatter and woo them as well as manipulate and connive people to attain his nefarious goal of becoming the King. Joe and Josh Short are the co-directors for this splendid Shakespearian tale of a man who would do anything to attain power while stepping on people and having them disposed of in any underhanded manner possible. Both Joe and Josh had strong theatre training at URI, having appeared in many shows here during their college days. They shorten the show to an energetic and fast paced 90 minute one act with 15 performers playing multiple roles. They make it more understandable and enjoyable for the entire audience from start to finish.

Richard III was the last King of his lineage at the end of the War of Roses when the Tudor’s ascended to the throne and who were in power when Shakespeare wrote this show. Joe and Josh have a keen eye into this show and the Shakespearean world of the past and obtain strong performances from their college performers. They add contemporary music during the death scenes which frightens you. Commanding the stage as the egotistical and maniacal Ricard III is Matthew Oxley. He oozes venom as this despicable man. He flatters the person and then betrays them the minute they leave his presence. Richard’s body count seems endless including his brother, his cousin, his wife, his mother, his nephews and so on. Matthew delivers his lines flawlessly.

The other performers are strong in their roles, too. His right hand man and cousin, Buckingham is excellently played by Lily Ferreira. Her authoritative voice and bearing fits the part perfectly. The assorted women he abuses along the way include his very own mother, Duchess of York, his wife, Lady Anne and his dead brother Edward IV’s wife Queen Elizabeth. Mary Mullane delivers the goods as his mother who curses him at his causing the death of her two sons and her two grandchildren. Erin McGowan is also strong as Lady Anne who at first berates him for her first husband’s death but eventually falls under his evil spell. Lorraine Guerra is very impressive as Elizabeth who is very upset at the death of her husband Edward IV and her two children. These three women run the gamut of emotions in their roles.

Richard’s cruelty tugs your heartstrings when Clarence, his brother pleads for his life as well as the scene with his two nephews who he has murdered to obtain the throne. Magenta Kolakowski plays the hapless, Clarence while young Paige Barlow plays the Young Prince. Conor Delaney plays the heroic Richmond who finally defeats Richard after “His Kingdom for a horse” speech. He not only plays this role but several smaller comic roles with a funny high pitch voice in the comic ones. So for a look back at this cautionary tale that could be ripped out of current day headlines about those in power abusing their authority although not as severe as Richard did, be sure to catch “Richard III” at URI to witness sensational acting and direction.

RICHARD III (20 February to 1 March)

URI Theatre, J Studio Theatre, Upper College Road, Kingston, RI

1(401)874-5843 or web.uri.edu/theatre

Theater Mirror Editors Favorite Theatrical Experiences of 2019

January 1, 2020January 10, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

By Michele Markarian and Mike Hoban

2019 was another banner year for theater in Boston, with the widest range of themes and offerings we’ve seen in a while. Fresh new theater companies and faces surprised us this year, so it’s energizing to see so much burgeoning talent bursting out in one small city. Theater Mirror Co-Editors Michele Markarian and Mike Hoban had a hard time pulling their respective lists of favorites from 2019, as there were so many deserving theatrical events, but here goes:

DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE – MMAS Black Box Theatre

January 1, 2020January 20, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

MMAS’s current show is “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” by Sarah Ruhl. This dark comedy centers on Jean, a 40 something unmarried woman who works at the Holocaust Museum. She answers a constantly ringing cell phone while sitting in a cafe. She picks it up to answer it and then realizes that the owner of the phone is dead. The man still has the phone in his hand and after picking it up, she starts on a journey to first call 911 and then keep the phone to keep the man alive. Gordon, the deceased man was involved in a unique line of work that unsettles Jean when she learns about it in the second act. Along the way she meets Gordon’s wife, Hermia, his brother, Dwight, his mother, Mrs. Gottlieb and his mistress, Carlotta. She attends the funeral posing as a co-worker, travels to the cafe to meet the mistress, goes to the Gottlieb home to have dinner, then to a stationary store with Dwight and then to heaven and back again as Jean unravels the mystery of the dead man’s cell phone with interesting, unsettling and intriguing information on her journey. Jean reinvents Gordon to bring peace to his family. The moral of the story is to spend less time with your cell phone and more time with your family, friends and loved ones. Becky Price makes her debut as a director at MMAS and does a stellar job with her casting, blocking and her keen eye into the comic elements of the script as well as the weightier ones dealing with unsavory business practices, immoral behavior and people’s unkindness to others.