Richard III - An Arab Tragedy Reviews
Christopher Harvey as Richmond in Richard III – An Arab Tragedy.
Royal Shakespeare Company Complete Works Festival.
Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon.
Sarah Lyall – New York TimesAs is usual in Shakespeare’s histories and tragedies, the play ends with a speech by an authority figure – in this case, the Earl of Richmond (and future King Henry VII) – coming forward to announce, essentially, that he is in charge and all is well. But Mr Bassam’s has set Richard’s downfall against the chaotic backdrop of American troops marching in as the country’s domestic troubles broaden into an international crisis whose resolution looks impossible.
His Richmond, in fact, is an American general who, chillingly, speaks the final words of the play in English, with the swaggering accent of the occupying army. The speech, ending with the words “God say Amen”, is meant to reassure. But even as he delivers it, a group of insurgents can be seen in the background, ready for a fight in the name of their own religion.
Sam Marlowe – The Times ***What does emerge powerfully, however, is a sense of the way in which religion is often suborned and perverted in conflict – whether it be by al-Bassam’s Richard, or by Richmond, here a platitude spouting Christian US General who at the play’s conclusion announces the installation of an interim government. It’s the most potent motif in a production that, if it never quite coheres, is rich in resonance.
Brian Logan – The Guardian ****And the Americans await their opportunity: Richard’s ultimate conqueror is not so much Richmond as Richmond, Virginia.
There are moments of thrilling immediacy, such as when the Americans assume their victory will be welcomed with hosannas rather than a belligerent “Allahu Akbar”.
Ian Shuttleworth – The Financial Times ***Richard’s ultimate conqueror Richmond (later Henry VII) is turned into an invading American General whose final speech attempts to discourage future “insurgency”. Where Shakespeare’s Richmond ended national strife, al Bassam’s seems certain to escalate it. It is seldom that one sees a Shakespearean reworking that is so enlightening while also retaining dramatic power.
Terry Grimley – The Birmingham Post **** There is humorous irony in the persistence of English names in this Arab context, and a more serious irony in the play’s final scene where the triumph of Richmond over Richard, usually seen as the end of civil war, is equated with the toppling of Saddam Hussein.
Hayley Cuthbertson – Coventry Telegraph ***It’s hard not to instantly dislike local actor Christopher Harvey’s American General Richmond, who after the battle declares a “temporary administration” which will herald the first free elections – but the play ends as it begins with the first gunshots of a revolution leaving the audience in no doubt that peace will be short lived.
Sandy Holt – The Stratford Herald
Last week the Sulayman Al-Bassam Theatre Company performed their new Arabic version of Richard III – and luckily it was one of those unexpected jewels in the crown.
The Middle Eastern cast were joined on stage by Warwickshire actor Christopher Harvey who offered an interesting twist as an American speaking General Richmond.