Richard II Review RSC 2000

Written by William Shakespeare
Directed: Steven Pimlott
Starring: David killick, David Troughton, Samuel West, Alfred Burke, Alexis Daniel, Paul Greenwood, Christopher Saul, Cathrine Walker, Janet Whiteside.
Story: Richard II's Devine Right is revoked as he is deposed by his cousin Bolingbroke, unleashing a crises of Government and the torment of King Richard's soul.

A round up of the press notices by Darren Dalglish

This RSC transfer from Stratford, has received favourable reviews from the popular press... SARAH ADAMS for TIME OUT says, "Pimlott engineers a slick, witty, masculine production..." DON DOWELL for THE STAGE says, "As Bollingbroke, David Troughton seems a little melodramatic at times, but he is directed with intelligence." NICHOLAS DE JONGE for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "For Richard II to appear in a grey, polo-necked sweater and black suit may cause alarm among traditionalists. But in Steven Pimlott's impressive production, played upon an all-white stage bare but for upright white chairs, a rectangular wooden crate and a grave-shaped earth-mound, the decision to opt for contemporary dress proves oddly illuminating." He goes on to say, "This Richard II still cuts a revelatory dash." RHODA KOENIG for THE INDEPENDENT, was luke-warm about the production saying, "Pimlott's production is well paced and cohesive, the high level of the acting let down only by the weak and clueless Queen of Catherine Walker (who wears too much lipstick). But it does not look as good as it sounds...." BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE for THE TIMES says, "The RSC's Richard II at the Barbican is too self-consciously modern for its own good.."