‘Now is the winter of our discontent / Made glorious summer by this sun of York’ is a famously optimistic line appropriately stated by Richard, Duke of Gloucester in hopes for a brighter future with a timely reference…but a lot can happen on a Segway.

Co-directed by Mary Parker and Robin Abrahams, Dream Role Players takes a look at how pride goes before the fall in the Shakespeare tragedy Richard III which has been alternating locations between Longfellow Park and Raymond Park in Cambridge, Massachusetts live and in person through September 1.  Women and gender minorities reign in this free, part steam punk, part rock n roll condensed production which runs 1 hour and 40 minutes with no intermission.  In Longfellow Park, Richard III takes place in an ideal spot in front of the famous Longfellow statue.  Click here for more information and where to find this free production.

Though the Dream Role Players are presenting an abbreviated version, Richard III is Shakespeare’s second longest play.  Ian McKellen, Al Pacino, and Laurence Oliver have all starred as Richard of Gloucester in various film adaptations over the years.

The battle over a throne can be fraught with violence, cunning, and manipulation much like chess pieces moving on a board.  Shakespeare unveils Machiavellian atrocities within some of his most famous works such as Hamlet, King Lear and Macbeth. However, Richard III features arguably one of the darkest and most arrogant Shakespearean villains depicted by Elizabeth Ross as Richard of Gloucester who aims for new heights.

While not as familiar with Richard III as with other Shakespearean works, it is easy to spot a great deal of common themes.  Richard III was crowned King from 1483 to 1485, but Shakespeare’s Richard III is considered historical fiction containing some factual elements with some liberties taken. 

Richard III possesses the earmarks common in Shakespeare’s tragedies including a great battle, arrogant musings, conspiring, violence, ghosts, and foreboding dreams while keeping the Shakespearean dialogue intact.  This production also infuses contemporary flair including gothic and steam punk costume trends primarily soaked in black and red.  Fingerless gloves, spiked crowns, jeans, pinstripes, fishnets, Victorian boots, and ripped stockings are a fraction of Teresa Griffin’s edgy costuming while also featuring symbolic and supernatural detail.  Hard rock girl bands dominate the production’s soundtrack to emphasize that edgy vibe. 

While the production is a bit vague in parts, this version of Richard III seems more lighthearted with some surprising laughs and dark humor for the level of tyranny it depicts, but not bereft of hope delivered in an inspiring monologue by Amelia Smith depicting a few roles including the Earl of Richmond.   

Richard III features a few miscreants to keep track of on the path to the throne, but Elizabeth Ross as Richard of Gloucester who had physical disabilities, is the most dastardly and at the same time, the most fun to watch.  Ross’s grand gestures, pettiness, sardonic whispers, and conspiratorial musings tucked behind a taunting grin while stylistically riding a Segway is a head turner.  Ross also utters one of Shakespeare’s most popular lines, ‘My kingdom for a horse’ and shares some strong scenes with Dani Dorrego as Queen Elizabeth and with Addie Pates as calculating informant Duke of Buckingham.

Dayenne CB Walters, who portrayed the big bad Iago in Dream Role Players’ Othello, returns in a dual role including a memorably manipulative Queen Margaret. 

The foundation of Dream Role Players is making roles accessible to anyone who dreams of portraying them.  Not sure if the dream was an all women and gender minorities cast or the majority of these roles were earnestly sought after by women or a little of both, but a gender bending cast of this nature was featured last year on a park in New York as well as in London.

Co-directed by Mary Parker and Robin Abrahams, Dream Role Players takes a look at how pride goes before the fall in the Shakespeare tragedy Richard III which has been alternating locations between Longfellow Park and Raymond Park in Cambridge, Massachusetts live and in person through September 1.  Women and gender minorities reign in this free, part steam punk, part rock n roll condensed production which runs 1 hour and 40 minutes with no intermission.  In Longfellow Park, Richard III takes place in an ideal spot in front of the famous Longfellow statue.  Click here for more information and where to find this free production.