This episode features a visit from the Ghost of Mr. Shakespeare as the Bard and George attend a rehearsal of Butler University’s rap version of Richard III - Ricky 3. Mr. Shakespeare proves himself to be a most agreeable chap, and George and the Bard attend a full rehearsal of an unconventional Richard III that is both innovative and respectful of the original. This is the final podcast episode before the full run of Ricky 3 - with performances on July 21, 22, and 23, as well as July 28, 29, and 30 at Taggart Ampitheatre in Riverside Park, Indianapolis. There is no charge for what should be an incredible experience!
00:00 Intro
02:18 Info about Richard III/Ricky 3
04:15 Mr. Shakespeare on Richard III11:46 “Now is the winter of our discontent”
15:12 Innovative additions
17:24 Info about attending performance
21:14 Future Episodes
22:15 Sources
23:07 Outro
This episode features a visit from the Ghost of Mr. Shakespeare as the Bard and George attend a rehearsal of Butler University’s rap version of Richard III - Ricky 3. Mr. Shakespeare proves himself to be a most agreeable chap, and George and the Bard attend a full rehearsal of an unconventional Richard III that is both innovative and respectful of the original. This is the final podcast episode before the full run of Ricky 3 - with performances on July 21, 22, and 23, as well as July 28, 29, and 30 at Taggart Ampitheatre in Riverside Park, Indianapolis. There is no charge for what should be an incredible experience!
00:00 Intro
02:18 Info about Richard III/Ricky 3
04:15 Mr. Shakespeare on Richard III11:46 “Now is the winter of our discontent”
15:12 Innovative additions
17:24 Info about attending performance
21:14 Future Episodes
22:15 Sources
23:07 Outro
George Bartley - plain text
William Shakespeare - bold text
00:00 Intro
When I was interpreting for the deaf at the Blackfriars Theatre, I remember an actor telling me that when she was in a Shakespearean play, she would imagine that Shakespeare was there in the front row watching her acting and listening to how she delivered the most beautiful words in the English language.
GREENSLEEVES
Welcome to Celebrate Poe, a deep dive into the life, times, and works of America’s Shakespeare - Edgar Allan Poe. This is episode 126 - A Very Special Richard. This episode begins and ends with an excerpt from a traditional English folk song - Greensleeves.
The easiest way is to access my podcast is by going to my hosting site at celebratepoe.buzzsprout.com All 126 of my podcasts can be accessed at celebratepoe.buzzsprout.com as well as the show notes and a script for each episode. And in case you were wondering, there is no charge for any of this.
Before I dive right into this episode, I want to emphasize that if you would like to make a comment, criticism, and just communicate with me regarding the podcast, my email is celebratepoe@gmail.com That’s celebratepoe@gmail.com
The upcoming podcast episodes for July are all Shakespeare-related, and feature a new voice character in the podcast - the Ghost of William Shakespeare. (Actually MY voice with special audio effects and a my attempts at a London accent on a separate vocal track - but you probably guessed that.)
02:18 Info about Richard III/Ricky 3
Today I want to talk about Ricky 3 - A Hip-Hop Shakespeare Richard II directed by Mikael Burke. a director based in Chicago, Mikael is an extremely articulate individual with a background in Shakespeare from Butler University, and one of the nicest persons you would ever want to meet. The artistic director is Ryan Artzberger, and if you see Ricky 3, you will really appreciate his talents.
The actual production of Ricky 3 will be held July 21-23 and July 28-30 in the awesome Taggart Ampitheater in Riverside Park in Indianapolis. That’s Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of the 3rd and 4th weeks of July.
Doors open at 7 pm, show time is 8 p.m.
Richard III is usually considered Shakespeare’s second longest play (with Hamlet being almost 4 hours. The first time I interpreted Richard III, it felt like it would NEVER end - but this version is approximately 2 hours with one intermission.
I was lucky enough to see a rehearsal, and I am not going to say anything about such stage elements as the costumes, set design, costume design, lighting, and sounds until I have seen them in action during a full dress rehearsal later this week. - BUT if they are anything like the directing and acting - and I have no reason to believe that would NOT be - I am sure those stage elements are awesome.
GHOST SOUND
04:15 Mr. Shakespeare on Richard III
Well, Hello, Mr. Shakespeare -
Greetings and salutations, Mr. Bartley
Celebrate Poe is certainly honored to have you today.
Before we continue any further, I must point out that my original plays would have used what scholars David and Ben Crystal - call original pronunciation in which my language was spoken - or OP -
For example, I will deliver the following line from Hamlet using original pronunciation - TA BAAA or NAUGT TA BAAA Today’s actors would deliver that line as “to be or not to be.”
OP might be more authentic, but I prefer that you speak closer to contemporary English. Otherwise, I don’t think we would understand anything you said.
I surmised those might be your wishes.
I was just talking about a production of your history play, Richard III - that combines hip-hop with your language.
Intriguing - you know music has always played an important role in my plays. During my earthly life, it is said that every play began and ended with tunes that were popular during Elizabethan times.
Mr. Shakespeare, I had made plans to go see a rehearsal of Ricky III tonight - I know as a ghost no one could see you and it appears that ghosts do not need to sit down - but you are probably tired of seeing people perform your works.
Ah no, Mr. Bartley - I frequently enjoy watching talented casts performing my works during rehearsals, as well as actual performances.
That is fascinating, Mr. Shakespeare - When I was interpreting for the deaf at the Blackfriars Theatre, I remember an actor telling me that when she was in a Shakespearean play, she would imagine that Shakespeare was there in the front row watching her acting and listening to how she delivered the most beautiful words in the English language. I will never forget those words.
Ah yes, I DID frequently watch performances at the American Shakespeare Center. Of course, I am sure that I no one actually felt that I was physically there, but my spirit was most definitely present.
I am going to a rehearsal tonight of Richard III at Butler University, so I will be better prepared to interpret the play in American Sign Language on July 28 - you are certainly welcome to come with me. I can’t exactly introduce you to the cast - my sanity would definitely come into question - more than usual
That won’t be a problem, and methinks attending a rehearsal would be a definite pleasure and honor.
Just a hint here - we are going in what is called a Lyft or Uber - whichever is cheaper - this is transportation that will come to your location and take you to your destination - for a fee. Just follow me - tho I must warn you - I will NOT be talking to you because it might look strange for me to talk to what looks like an empty seat.
I understand.
Now I do need to be there a few minutes early for a rapid COVID-19 test.
You understand.
I am familiar with the effects of the virus on the world. I just wish that we had similar tests to help protect us from viruses during my earthly life.
Well, according to my phone, it looks like our ride is here.
Mr. Bartley - I do not fully understand you - but I will trust whatever you say.
GREENSLEEVES
(:14 Mr. Shakespeare on Richard III
Well, Mr. Shakespeare - we’re back from the rehearsal. What was your opinion?
To be honest, the acting was some of the best I have ever seen.
Perhaps you might make some occasional remarks about the actors and writing the play itself.
Certainly. But to begin with, I wrote Richard III during the time in which I formed the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. The formation of that company gave me a great deal of professional and personal satisfaction - I was no longer forced to always collaborate on such plays as that popular but quite gruesome Titus Andronicus. I wrote such history plays as King Joh, Henry IV, Parts i and iI, Richard II, and of course - Richard III - during this period.
Do you remember who originally played Richard IIi?
Ah yes, that would be the talented Richard Burbage. Mr. Burbage triumphed as Richard III, and he also played the lead in Hamlet. Mr. Burgage also played in Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Macbeth, and King Lear - an incredibly versatile actor.
Now those who saw the play when it was written in 1592, would have been quite familiar with the political incidents surrounding Richard III.
In comparison to audiences today who are mostly unfamiliar with English history.
Yes, but the story of Richard III is basically quite simple. You see, Richard wants to become King - and it doesn’t matter who he has to kill to achieve his goals. While he is camping before a battle, he has a dream where he encounters some very spooky ghosts. In the morning Henry of Richmond kills Richard in battle, and becomes King Henry VII.
11:46 “Now is the winter of our discontent’
We could go though all the speeches in Richard III - but that would take hours, so I would like to suggest that you read just the FIRST speech in the play - perhaps one of the most famous soliloquies from ANY play - in other words a monologue spoken to oneself or expressing thoughts outloud without addressing another person.
Certainly - I certainly welcome the opportunity. I have not acted since my earthly existence - and that was over 500 years ago. Now at the very beginning of Richard III or Ricky 3 - the character of Richard is alone on stage and addresses the audience - he is speaking to himself and expressing thoughts out loud without addressing another person.
Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York;
And all the clouds that lour'd upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths;
Our bruised arms hung up for monuments;
Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings,
Our dreadful marches to delightful measures.
Grim-visaged war hath smooth'd his wrinkled front;
And now, instead of mounting barbed steeds
To fright the souls of fearful adversaries,
He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber
To the lascivious pleasing of a lute.
But I, that am not shaped for sportive tricks,
Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass;
I, that am rudely stamp'd, and want love's majesty
To strut before a wanton ambling nymph;
I, that am curtail'd of this fair proportion,
Cheated of feature by dissembling nature,
Deformed, unfinish'd, sent before my time
Into this breathing world, scarce half made up,
And that so lamely and unfashionable
That dogs bark at me as I halt by them;
Why, I, in this weak piping time of peace,
Have no delight to pass away the time,
Unless to spy my shadow in the sun
And descant on mine own deformity:
And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover,
To entertain these fair well-spoken days,
I am determined to prove a villain
And hate the idle pleasures of these days.
Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous,
By drunken prophecies, libels and dreams,
To set my brother Clarence and the king
In deadly hate the one against the other:
And if King Edward be as true and just
As I am subtle, false and treacherous,
This day should Clarence closely be mew'd up,
About a prophecy, which says that 'G'
Of Edward's heirs the murderer shall be.
Dive, thoughts, down to my soul: here
Clarence comes.
15:12 Innovative additions
Mr. Shakespeare, as you know the “Now is the winter of our discontent” is traditionally given by an angry Richard - often physically deformed, and definitely a villiian. Mr. Shakespeare, the Richard IiI at Butler University has to be the first Richard III that I have ever seen where he does not come off - at least to me - as grotesque or even a monster. Richard III comes off as someone who has been trod on by life, and even emotionally scared - in other words, more human.
And lines you might be totally familiar with from another production come across when a different interpretation is used - as though you are hearing those lines for the first time.
In most productions of Richard III I have seen, the character of Richard almost spits out the lines
To entertain these fair well-spoken days,
I am determined to prove a villain
And hate the idle pleasures of these days.
But in Butler’s production - Shante Gaston delivers the line “I am determined to prove a villain” as though she is basically a good person, but has no choice but to act the villian.
But I digress …
You know. perhaps it might be useful to go through the plot in more detail - noting how some of the other cast members at Butler University deal with their roles.
Yes, Mr. Bartley. That may prove most useful. I know that the play has so many dimensions that our brief discussion will not give a great deal away - but they might help someone who is planning to attend a production of the play - for the total experience, one must come to the Taggart Ampitheatre to experience the play.
Yes, Mr. Shakespeare, this is definitely a play to be experienced.
Just remember that Richard of Gloucester, the brother of the dying King Edward IV, is determined to gain the crown of England for himself, no matter what.
In the second scene, Richard romantically pursues Lady Anne in an angry love/hate relationship. They eventually marry - with Anne becoming Duchess of Gloucester. Then Richard sends his older brother to the Tower of London - here Clarence tells his jailer a dream that he had about drowning. Later, Richard’s assassins kill Clarence and place the body in a cask of wine.
This podcast will discuss that dream - and how it furthers the action - in a future podcast episode. And I wanted to mention that the actors playing Lady Anne and Clarence are incredible. Lady Anne is extremely believable in a part where her actions are rather - unbelievable - marrying Richard III - after his extremely devious and cruel actions. And Kerrington Shorter is quite believable as the Duke of Buckingham, as a good man who is willing to advocate for Richard - up to a point.
I do not desire to - as you currently say - “give away” any further development in the plot and will therefore refrain from relating more details about the plot and performances - but I will make an exception and say that I was most impressed by the interpretation of the Battle of Bosworth near the end of the play.
Yes, instead of traditional English soldiers, the armies gave off a definite “West Side Story/rumble” vibe that made the battle come off as a combination of a stylized jazz dance and brutal battle simultaneously.
Mr. Shakespeare, on second thought - it might not be a good idea to try and analyze the entire play - I guess you will have to see the play to know what I mean. There is no charge for what should be an incredible experience - the Indianapolis Shakespeare Company in Ricky 3 on July 21, 22, and 23, as well as July 28, 29, and 30 - in other words - the third and fourth weeks of July. The Thursday, July performance is interpreted in American Sign Language for the deaf. For more information, check out the Indianapolis Shakespeare website at www.indyshakes.com and go to 2022 Ricky 3 A Hip Hop Shakespeare Richard III
Future Episodes -
July 17 - a conversation with the Ghost of Mr. Shakespeare on the process of translating his works into American Sign Language. Ricky 3/Richard III will be the 27th Shakespearean production I have interpreted, and I want to talk about some of the special challenges provided by the current Indianapolis Shakespeare production.
Then the following episode will deal with three dream sequences in Richard III (comparing them with Poe’s “Dream Poems”) My favorite in Richard III is the last one where King Richard dreams about all the people he has killed to achieve his goals. This episode ends with Mr. Shakespeare talking about some of the other references to dreams in his other plays
Sources include
Richard III by William Shakespeare, Asimov's Guide to Shakespeare: A Guide to Understanding and Enjoying the Works of Shakespeare, Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human by Harold Bloom Cohen, Shakesfear and How to Cure It, by Ralph Alan Cohen,
The Reader’s Encyclopedia of Shakespeare by Oscar Campbell, ed, Shakespeare's Words: A Glossary and Language Companion by David Crystal, volumes one and two of Shakespeare Lexicon and Quotation Dictionary by Alexander Schmidt,, and the Indianapolis Shakespeare Web site at www.indyshakes.com
Thank you for listening for Celebrate Poe.
GREENSLEEVES