Richard III Reviews
LA Theatrix- Highly Recommended
"...Directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos with a minimal set and bare scaffolding (designed by Angela Balogh Calin), the play opens with an added-on recap of Shakespeare’s history plays (including the “Henriad” series) prior to “Richard III,” depicting in brief the violent succession of English kings up to the moment Richard sets his sights on the throne, providing context for what comes next."
ArtsInLA- Highly Recommended
"...An ill-shaped wretch no sane person would want to gain power. A habitual liar who will say absolutely anything to get ahead. A monster who uses people to get what he wants and then immediately turns upon or discards them. A person for whom the phrase “Conscience is but a word cowards use” could be used as a motto. Remind you of anyone? No, no, no – it’s Richard the Third! A lively and entertaining production of Shakespeare’s Richard III at A Noise Within, to be precise, which features a brilliant, tour de force performance by Ann Noble as the toxic monarch."
Night Tinted Glasses- Highly Recommended
"...Fessing up--Richard III is my favorite play by William Shakespeare. So I have seen many, many, many productions including the famous film versions starring Lawrence Olivia and Ian McKlellan respectively as hunchbacked king. A Noise Within's production of this play, directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos and starring Ann Noble in the title role, frankly is the best live action version of it I myself have ever seen."
Stage Raw- Recommended
"...One needn’t delve too deep to grasp why Richard III abides as a compelling, timeless and timely work. To begin, there’s the title character: a clever, charismatic villain, as focused on seducing his audience as he is the widow of a man he has just callously murdered. The opening confidences he airs about his disability and grand designs are arguably —though, in the end, not definitively — the highlight of the play, if only for the masterly way that Shakespeare crafted a psychological portrait of evil that is also so totally and identifiably human."
Larchmont Buzz- Highly Recommended
"...In Shakespeare’s canon, villains’ tongues are generally sharper than their swords. While there is no shortage of blood spilled in Shakespearean tragedies, wily antagonists like Othello’s Iago, Hamlet’s Claudius and Lady Macbeth often inflict more damage through suggestion, implication and gossip than with a blade. Among these well-spoken villains, though, few are able to wield such potent charisma as the titular tyrant of Richard III."
Mostly Shakespeare- Highly Recommended
"...The performance moves quickly, the action accelerating as it drives to its climax. Tony Pasqualini is excellent as Lord Stanley in the scene where Richard accuses him of betrayal. He raises his voice on "Most mighty sovereign," and that seems to work on Richard, but perhaps only to an extent, for Richard then demands that Lord Stanley leave behind his son. For at this point Richard can't trust anyone, and there is a great moment where he stands over the prone messenger, demanding, "bring better news." There is a wonderful use of images on a screen to depict the series of ghosts that appear to both Richard and Richmond in their sleep."