Ruth Stage
presents

WARS OF THE ROSES: HENRY VI & RICHARD III
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed and Adapted by Austin Pendleton

August 1 - 19, 2018
124 Bank Street Theatre
124 Bank Street between Greenwich and Washington Streets
Tickets: www.proveavillain.com

Co- Director – Peter Bloch
Stage Manager – Jesse Meckl
Light Design – Steve Wolf
Costume Consultant – Maya Luz
Press Representative– Glenna Freedman Public Relations

Cast
Matt de Rogatis – Austin Pendleton – Greg Pragel – Johanna Leister – Michael Villastrigo
Debra Lass – Rachel Marcus – Pete McElligott – Jim Broaddus – Carolyn Groves
John Constantine – Milton Elliott – John L. Payne – Adam Dodway – Tomas Russo

WARS OF THE ROSES: HENRY VI & RICHARD III combines William Shakespeare’s plays Henry VI Part 3 and Richard III. Directed and adapted by Austin Pendleton, the play stars Mr. Pendleton as King Henry VI and Matt de Rogatis as King Richard III. The production will probably be best appreciated by an audience familiar with the source material or the history behind it.

The production is very spare with limited sets and props, no music/sound and fast-paced scene changes. For most of the first act, many actors not “on” are seated behind the action in folding chairs, like a gallery. An interesting choice, it suggests that the others are watching and somehow aware of and participating in the tyranny that will lead to so much death and destruction. Given the limited space in the theater, the murders and deaths are almost pantomimed, with violence suggested but not graphically portrayed, and the dead walking off the stage, later to return to haunt Richard III.

The ultimate villain in WARS OF THE ROSES: HENRY VI & RICHARD III, a universe in which there are many assassins and bad deeds, is Richard III. Matt de Rogatis infuses the role with rage, especially in the second act. Unfortunately, it is never quite clear what has led the character on the murderous journey and quest for power he is on. As an adaptation of two of Shakespeare’s history plays, however, the production is an ambitious labor of love with a solid ensemble cast.

- Kessa De Santis -