Richard II review, Donmar Warehouse

Eddie Redmayne has an extraordinary face. In some lights he is utterly beautiful with glittering eyes, high cheekbones, and a mouth made for kissing. In others, particularly wearing the pointed crown of England, he has the haunted look of an emaciated Staffordshire bull terrier waiting for food. At all points in this glorious Richard II, he is fragile. A foolish, foppish, vulnerable man whose handing over of his crown to Bolingbroke is so moving one is ready to forgive him everything.

Paper scissors throne

We meet him centre stage, in front of gold-lit cloisters, meditating on his throne in an incense-filled auditorium. Redmayne holds the pose for fifteen minutes before the action gets underway with the throwing down of so many gauntlets, it's like the glove section of Selfridges on the first day of the sales. This is testosterone at it's petulant, posturing, fisticuffs best with all hell breaking loose when Richard requisitions his cousin Bolingbroke's inheritance. 

Given that the action all happens outside, what's surprising in this thrilling story of a weak king who makes enemies of his allies, is the continual movement. Only Redmayne remains still. He is glacial, almost childlike. As his foil, Andrew Buchan is a rustic, rebellious, righteous, Bolingbroke. There are superb performances throughout. Ron Cook is mesmerising as the Duke of York and Sian Thomas is excellent as both Duchess of Gloucester and Duchess of York.

In Conclusion: Retiring Artistic Director, Michael Grandage, has created a Richard II that is accessible as well as entertaining. It's young, beautifully set, lit, spoken and acted, throwing open Shakespeare's history cycle to a new generation.

References
Henry Hitchings review, The Evening Standard