"Richard II" Comes to Stratford Library Amphitheater

From the Hudson Shakspeare Company:

The Hudson Shakespeare Company, now in their 25th season, returns to the Stratford Library Amphitheater, 2203 Main
Street, on Saturday, June 25 at 2pm with their first ever history cycle. The cycle kicks off with “Richard II”,
Shakespeare’s story of a king (Ryan Molloy) who thinks himself God’s representative on earth and the clash with his
blue collar like cousin, Henry Bolingbroke (Rhiannon Lattimer).

Synopsis
More cult leader than king, Richard rules his kingdom without any regard for his subjects except for those sycophants
who he personally chooses for his inner circle. While Richard lords over his country with reckless abandon, the seeds of
civil war are sown as the recently banished Henry Bolingbroke returns to England to claim an inheritance that was
taken from him by Richard. Bolingbroke, who has no patience for empty speeches, self-serving pomp, and divisive
policies quickly launches a series of military offenses and wins disaffected followers in the process. The political
philosophies and personal views of the ceremonious endowed by God incumbent and the no-nonsense pragmatist
clash and the future of a country hangs in the balance

Play
First written in 1595, “Richard II” is the first in what is known as Shakespeare’s major or second history cycle which is
followed by “Henry IV, Part 1”, “Henry IV, Part 2” and “Henry V”.

One of its most interesting historical claims to fame is that it was used as propaganda to fuel its own civil war that
never happened. In 1601, a former favorite nobleman of Queen Elizabeth I, Earl of Essex had had enough of her
policies and decided that she needed to be taken out. He and his friends organized a rebellion and needed to have
London’s people on their side. The conspirators hired Shakespeare’s company to perform Richard II as Elizabeth had
been compared to Richard’s less than stellar ruling qualities. The conspirators hoped that seeing the play would cause a
riot to occur that would help that military takeover but it never materialized. Essex and his group were arrested but
Shakespeare’s theater company was not found to be guilty in the plot.
Company

Hudson Shakespeare Company is now in its 25th season of traveling Shakespeare and continues its history cycle in July
but with a twist. The next play up is “Edward III” which tells the story of Richard’s grandfather and father, Ned, the
Black Prince. Shakespeare wrote several scenes in the play that has been recently added to his Complete Works. The
company finished out its silver season with a Henry IV parts 1 and 2, combining both plays into one 2- hour showing.
For the outdoor showing its recommended to bring a lawn chair or blanket. In case of inclement or very hot weather,
the show will be moved indoors to The Lovell Room.