Richard III – Trafalgar Studios, London

Having read through a few reviews of the play, I don’t think I was the only one who disliked the 1970s setting of this staging of Richard III, currently on at Trafalgar Studios with Martin Freeman in the title role.  In fact, not having purchased a programme on this occasion, I didn’t really understand the choice at all as a reference to the 1978-79 ‘Winter of Discontent’, something of a parallel universe after an imagined coup.  My fault perhaps, I will make sure to bring cash for a programme next time.

The acting however largely made up for the drawbacks of the setting.  I hadn’t initially been confident of Freeman as the hunchbacked king: he has shown a convincing streak of menace in Fargo and other things I’ve seen him in, so I don’t know what my reservations were founded in, but he certainly won me over either way.  The reason that he makes a chilling and convincing murderous king is that he is efficient and calculating throughout.  He does not have anyone killed in the heat of passion (wifey aside) but at the end of a meeting or while eating his lunch.  It’s frankly more convincing given the state of any number of countries in the 1970s.  A number of his costars also turn in strong performances, especially Gina McKee as Elizabeth.

It’s a decent production then, but somewhat held back by concept.  There was one moment in particular when the combination of bloody ghosts in nighties and horse heads with elevators reminded me of a 70s horror film in the Carrie/Shining vein, which I’m assuming wasn’t the intention.  Those troublemaking Martin Freeman fans we read about beforehand were well behaved on the night – I know they were there because a standing ovation was a bit too far for a good but not incredible evening of theatre.