Richard 3

Kate Mulvany clearly relishes playing Richard 3.  Sharing some of his physical limitations which she’s able to use to impressive effect, she has an affection for this maligned villain. Her Richard is impish, clever, bitter, murderous with an infectious giggle, and emphatically, convincingly masculine. There’s something of Cabaret’s Emcee to him, a consummate but self-conscious performer. Her brilliant portrayal would make this production captivating, even without the lavish set, attention to detail and excellent cast. Despite his comparatively tiny stature, Richard’s character fills the space as he murders his way to the crown.

The pace is driven by two alternating emotions: grief and glee. The despair of the mothers and wives of Richard’s victims is offset by the sheer delight of Richard as his schemes come together. Lady Anne’s (Rose Riley) and Queen Elizabeth’s (Meredith Penman) pain is raw and chilling, and the onstage murders convincing enough to be genuinely alarming.

In making Richard a cohesive personality for whom the audience feels a degree of empathy, it seems Mulvany has sacrificed his some of deceptiveness. It’s always hard to understand how Lady Anne is convinced over the still warm body of her dead husband to marry his self-confessed murderer, or that anyone would mistake Richard for pious. Mulvany’s performance doesn’t resolve that, but it’s such a compelling and watchable portrait I’m not sure it matters. Perhaps the various characters agree to Richard’s schemes at least partially because they don’t feel they have a choice, or they feel it is to their advantage?

Supporting Mulvany are a superb cast, including Gareth Reeves as a bewildered Clarence and Ivan Donato, who makes an excellent cheerful murderer without any apparent pangs of conscience.

The set and styling are utterly gorgeous with an art deco flavour in black, rich dried-blood coloured maroons and peach satin, velvet and brocade. Details like a realistically blood-stained shroud add to the sense of realism.

More than anything else though, this is Mulvany’s moment. You can’t take your eyes off her.

Cathy Bannister

Photographer: Prudence Upton.