RICHARD II University of Adelaide Theatre Guild The Little Theatre Until 22 Aug 2009 Review by Stephen Davenport There’s big drama and a large cast at the Little Theatre for “Richard II”. The first in Shakespeare’s teratology contains some of the Bard’s most beautiful poetry and during this production that’s delivered with aplomb. Unlike Shakespeare's Elizabethan audience, the modern theatergoer is unfamiliar with the back-story concerning Richard’s connection with the murder of the Duke of Gloucester. Director Harry Dewar overcomes this by setting the play during the 1930’s as the world is on the brink of a world war. The cast wear period mufti or military uniforms. For example, Richard wears a naval and Bolingbroke an army uniform throughout most of the production. Graham Self forces us to see Richard II as a foolish dictator who has the courage of his misguided convictions. There are also fine performances by Mollie Birch as the Duchess of Gloucester, John Edge is delightful as John of Gaunt, David Mitchell grabs our sympathies as an indecisive York, Marieka Hambledon is believable as Queen Isabella and Georgia Dodd has great presence as Bushy. Unusually, the production opens in a ball room with a chanteuse singing Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” Everyone is merrily decadent until Bolingbroke (Russell Slater) and Mowbray (Keith Manson) accuse each other of treason. From then on it’s all action and striking poetic language – there’s very little prose in this play – with Bolingbroke the man of the hour and Richard clinging on to his throne. This play is nothing without a strong actor portraying Richard II and Self copes with the verse with adequate authority to keep the audience engaged.