Richard II

Published Wednesday 6 July 2005 at 17:15 by Prue Britten

This production bears all the hallmarks of Steven Berkoff and, for the most part, to excellent effect. The cohesive ensemble work provides a silent, choreographed Greek chorus, commenting on, and reacting to, the main action. From the outset we are thrust into a world of posers, sycophants and duplicity at the court of King Richard II. Whether the king (Timothy Walker) accepts deposition and relinquishes the crown willingly or under Bolingbroke’s duress, and whether Bolingbroke (Joseph Millson) is a usurper of the crown or England’s saviour, is an ongoing debate, and this production offers no definitive conclusion.

Bolingbroke is presented as a charismatic leader in waiting, having the common touch and an eye to the main chance. Millson handles the role with a fine physical presence and near-perfect technique. He allows us to believe that in Bolingbroke “our tardy apish nation” has a rescuer.

Timothy Walker brings the full range of his experience to the title role, presenting a spoilt and petulant “unstaid youth”, happy to wallow and posture in his “sacred state” as the monarch. As his friends and stalwarts desert him, Richard is forced to plumb the depths of his spiritual void until finally his disintegration is complete.

That Walker can carry his audience through this journey to a king’s humanity is a tribute to his total inhabitation of the role, to his talented production team and fellow actors, but principally to Berkoff, whose stamp is firm, light and everywhere. With many modern parallels to contemplate, this is an entertaining and thought-provoking production.