Customer Reviews

Richard II (Arkangel Complete Shakespeare)

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I recently purchased this Richard II audio play. It is superb and one of the best Arkangel productions, and I have many. The cast and crew did such a fine job, this history rose to be one of my favorite Shakespeare works. You will be enthralled by the drama of one all-powerful monarch being swept away by another. A wonderful Rupert Graves as Richard brings the king's complex character to life. He will move you from early detest of King Richard's selfish and petty evils and arrogance, to pity as Richard tumbles from the heights of power and glory to a lonely and violent end. The production quality is so high one feels like an eavesdropper on the real historical events as they are happening. You will not be disappointed with this purchase.

This is typical of many of the Arkangel series of Shakespeare productions: an atmospheric and overall fine rendition of the play marred by a weak performance in the major role. Unfortunately, Rupert Graves gives a bloodless reading of the Richard II part, with a generally flat and arhythmical delivery of the glorious lines. It sounds as if he doesn't understand what he's saying and so he tries to kick the lines into life with melodramatic emphases but these sound forced and unconvincing. However, the supporting cast is far superior on the whole, the sound-effects and pacing are arresting, and Dominique Le Gendre's music is, as usual in this series, ravishing.

Arkangel have produced a highly listenable edition of 'Richard II', which (along with the Roman plays like 'Coriolanus') contains some of Shakespeare's most powerful political insights.

Arkangel's production never allows the listener to forget the subtle complexities at work. The actors do a marvellous job wringing meaning out of lines which might never have been gleaned from the written text, and the unspoken nuances, for instance, when Mowbray is told of his banishment, are palpable. The opening scene is intensely acted, with Bolingbroke and Norfolk spitting venom at each other before a king whose decadent boredom is obvious. Rupert Graves is excellent as Richard II, with highly expressive delivery (amused condescension, anger etc.) changing as his character's situation changes.

Also worth mentioning (in a play that completely lacks humour) is John Nettleton as the Duke of York, coming across as such a pompous old duffer that I almost laughed out loud each time he opened his mouth. The play's music is highly memorable, too, and was stuck in my head for days.