Montford Park Players will stage Shakespeare’s Richard III at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, Aug. 7-29. Performances are at 7:30 p.m., Fridays-Sundays.
Press release from the theater company:
The Montford Park Players will present Shakespeare’s “Richard III” at the outdoor Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre in August. The play is free to the public. Actors pass a hat at intermission for donations.
Richard III has become relevant again in recent years with the discovery of his remains under a carpark in Leicester. While some historians have been trying to reverse the Tudor propaganda so evident in Shakespeare’s play, the Montford Park Players will revel in it. This will be Shakespeare’s greatest villain and dark comedian in all his glory. Richard addresses the audience directly as confidants in his schemes, an effect mimicked most recently by Frank Underwood in the popular HBO series, “House of Cards”. His bitterness at his outward disfigurement fuels an inward deformity. He sets his sights on becoming king at all costs, playing an elaborate game of chess at court, and leaving blood and chaos in his wake.
The Montford Park Players will set their production in an unnamed surveillance state at an unnamed time period. Technology will be used to give the audience the feeling that they are constantly being watched, putting them squarely in the middle of the paranoia of the time.
People are encouraged to bring picnics to enjoy before and during the show. Alcohol is permitted at the amphitheatre. You can either bring your own food and drink, or purchase wine, local beer, and snacks on site.
“Richard III” runs Friday through Sunday, August 7th – 29th at 7:30 PM at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre at 92 Gay Street in Asheville. More information can be found by calling (828) 254-5146 or online at www.montfordparkplayers.org
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.