Review: 'Richard II' still powerful in podcast production

Here’s a subject many actors fear and some audiences dread: Shakespeare. And let me complicate it a bit more; how about four hours of Shakespeare via a radio format? You got it – no visuals, no stage, no costumes – just your vivid imagination and totally focused listening prowess.

For the first time in 66 years, the legendary Public Theater of New York decided it could not offer the Free Shakespeare in the Park productions due to the COVID pandemic. We are all only too aware of the devastation; theaters are dark, festivals have been canceled, actors, technicians and producers continue to be unemployed casualties. But The Public wisely collaborated with New York’s public radio station, WNYC, taking the play "from the open air to the air" to make one of their season’s scheduled productions available for free: "Richard II," as directed by and conceived for radio by Saheem Ali.

The result is an incredible, four-episode serialization of the Shakespeare history play. And for the wary, each episode is accompanied by an analysis and cast commentary; for the truly dedicated, you can even download a script to follow along with. And what a challenge that must have been to surmount: 26 different actors from 26 locations rehearsing and performing via Zoom.

As with most of Shakespeare’s histories/tragedies, the themes are the encompassing royal revenge, family disputes, loyalty and, of course, revolution. The only difference is that director Ali is determined to release Richard II’s humanity in this production, which makes his predictable descent all the more palpable.

Episode 1 and 2 establish Richard’s character (or lack of) and ineffectiveness as a leader. Episode 3 is the tie-breaker; the entire play turns strategically and powerfully. Bolingbrooke claims the crown from Richard; this is where the infamous deposition speech occurs.

Chillingly, touchingly, Richard stands on the castle ramparts as he sees Bolingbrooke’s battalion approaching. Episode 4 sees Richard deposed and exiled to Pontefract Castle, his queen is off to France, and a misunderstood interpretation of Bolingbrooke’s “Have I no friend to rid me of this living fear?” leads to what we all know is going to happen (spoiler alert). All five acts of this rather lengthy Shakespeare play are thoroughly and magnificently covered throughout the four episodes.

So, here’s the deal. You’ll need about four hours to listen to the entire play as each episode runs from about 57 to 60 minutes. The advantage is you can listen whenever you want from wherever you want.

Lupita Nyong’o is the narrator, she of the soothing and welcome voice. André Holland is an ebullient, disconnected and decidedly controversial and emotive Richard II. Miriam Hyman is a grave, rebellious, charismatic Bolingbrooke. Yes, there are other notables: Phylicia Rashad is a strong, widowed Duchess of Gloucester seeking revenge. Michael Gaston is the loyal Northumberland, while Dakin Matthews is a dynamic, dying Gaunt – he gets to deliver that great “litany of praise” England speech. The esteemed and beloved Estelle Parsons is a wonderful, maternal Duchess of York, who opposes her husband and begs for her son’s life in court.

"Richard II" may not be as well known or perceived as Shakespeare’s other Richard play, "Richard III." Shakespeare portrayed Richard II as a bad king lacking morals; he simply possessed poor judgment and bad advisers in the annals of real history. He could not settle conflicts among his knights, he taxed his people unjustly, and he seized others' land. In his favor, he did establish baronial hierarchy. Richard II is also believed to have starved to death on Feb. 14, 1400, not quite meeting the tragic end Shakespeare assigned him.

I will admit that initially it was extremely difficult just listening and focusing, but then my imagination built the scenes and envisioned costumes and faces (The Public does provide cast photos by the way). Nor could I endure all four hours in one sitting; easier if you spread the episodes out.

The Public Theater never fails to impress; gratefully it continues the work of its founder Joe Papp and the 1954 Shakespeare workshop. Six Pulitzers and 59 Tonys later, The Public enthusiastically continues to create, nurture and take chances. Thank you.

• Regina Belt-Daniels has been involved with theater since the first grade onstage, in web series, film and radio. She still experiences Shakespeare anxiety despite appearing in several of his works, and having attended 32 of his 38 works, thanks in part to theatrical productions in Stratford, London, Edinburgh, Chicago, Normal and Spring Green, Wisconsin.

IF YOU TUNE IN

WHAT: "Richard II" in a four-part broadcast

COST: Free, with donations to The Public Theater encouraged

INFO: Publictheater.org, www.wnyc.org/shows/free-shakespeare-radio-richard-ii; also on Apple, Google, Spotify, SoundCloud, NPR One podcasts and Folger.edu