'Richard III' at Sacred Heart University - A Review

Fairfield, CT - The first time I saw a performance of Shakespeare’s RICHARD III was at the Connecticut Center for the Performing Arts at the late American Shakespeare Theatre in my hometown of Stratford, CT. I mourned its loss when it burned to the ground last year, so it did my heart good to recently find a treasure trove of theatrical programs from my high school years. I attended the performance of RICHARD III on Aug. 21, 180 and I sat in the balcony of the then most beautiful theater for the Thursday matinee for the princely sum of $6.50. I have only the vaguest memory of the production that included Michael Moriarty in the title role, Viveca Lindfors as Queen Margaret, David Huffman as Buckingham and a young Philip Casnoff as Clarence.

This weekend I made the commute back to my alma mater to experience what I believe to be my second viewing of the play, this time presented by an all-female cast of talented Sacred Heart University students. The SHU Theatre Arts Program is to be congratulated on taking on this already challenging work of Shakespeare and then adding this unique twist to the production. Director John Flaherty ensured that the 19 actresses and the female dominated production team rose to the challenge of everything involved in getting it on to the stage of the campus auditorium. Freshman Ashley Canto was the assistant director.

“Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York”

The actors who were part of the recent SOMETHING ROTTEN at the Warner will appreciate that I had to squelch the impulse to repeat these opening lines to the tune of “Will Power” on the grounds that it would have been highly inappropriate in this setting.

I have been a lover of Shakespeare since before my high school years and it has never done away. The young women who made up the cast did very well with the language, the tone of the bloody historical play with a very high body count.

Rebecca Radisic (LARAMIE, IN THE HEIGHTS as Vanessa) gave a masterful performance of Richard Duke of York. Ms. Radisic wore a hump and walked with a limp and made us believe that she was winding the character’s path of his Machiavellian rise to power and brief reign. At SHU, Ms. Radisic is a junior Theatre Arts and Media Arts double major and she clearly deserved to play this role.

Courtney O’Shea, now a senior at SHU, made the role of the Duke of Buckingham her own. I hope that I will get to see her at least once more in a SHU production before she graduates in May.

SHU junior Mae Archacki, the show’s producer, played the role of Richard Ratcliffe. Freshman Selina Barnes played Lord Grey, James Blunt and a citizen in her first stage role at SHU. Danielle Callabrese, a sophomore in her first performance at SHU, played Earl Rivers, Earl of Surrey, Sir James Tyrell, Sheriff of Wiltshire and Scrivener. Sophomore Alice Campbell (AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN, LARAMIE) played Lord Stanley and junior Mary Campione played King Edward IV.

Freshman Allie Cimaglia made her college debut as Lord Lovell, Sir Thomas Vaughn, Sir William Brandon, Tressel, First Murderer and messengers. Senior Grace Falvey was regal as Queen Elizabeth and sophomore Amy Hall played Lord Hastings, a messenger and Lord to Richmond. Grace Hanrahan, a sophomore, was the Duchess of York. Elise Jolie, a freshman, played Sir William Catesby, First Citizen and Ghost of Prince Edward in her first college production.

Junior Delancey Lynch (BEES, Natalie in NEXT TO NORMAL) played Henry Earl of Richmond, Archbishop of York, Berkeley, Second Murderer and Bishop and SHU senior Rose McKenna gave an impressive performance in her first Shakespearean production in the role of Queen Margaret.

Ashley Mooney, a freshman, played the young Edward Prince of Wales and Edward Plantagenet in her SHU debut. Freshman Juliana Rezza was lovely as Lady Anne and Isabela Scaglione (IN THE HEIGHTS as Daniela) played Duke of Norfolk, Marquess of Dorset, Lord Mayor of London, and the Ghost of Henry VI. Sophomore Olivia Sheppard played the young Duke of York and Darragh Whalen, a freshman, appeared as Clarence, a messenger and a citizen in her SHU theatrical debut.

The costumes designed by junior Jenna Sheridan were modern dress in mostly muted tones, except for some royal purple and a few crowns. Junior Johannah Johnson and sophomore Gabriela Dos Santos were in charge of the hair and makeup design that included many single braids and worked with the costumes.

The performers did not wear microphones, but managed to project to the seats in the back rows. There was woman-themed music like “I’m Every Woman” that played around the two acts, while the instrumental music covering the scene changes played on repeat.

The actors who were part of the recent SOMETHING ROTTEN at the Warner will appreciate that I had to squelch the impulse to repeat these opening lines to the tune of “Will Power” on the grounds that it would have been highly inappropriate in this setting.

Click here to view a NEWS12 video about this production.

The closing performance will be presented on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 3pm.