Richard II stage footage | Act IV, scene 1 - the deposition scene | 2013 

This is the loveliest compliment honestly. And so true.

Even the Doctor.

Just enough of a bastard to be worth knowing

But the audience reaction was terrible. Why the laughter. ? It's not funny. Hollow crown version is the true masterpiece of this. I get films different, but this seemed rushed. If you know the history you know.

trollerita ikr it looks so odd I’m not much of ghe “long hair” but his regular short hair is better, but eh still good play 😂 🔥

I know. You just wanna spend hours combing it.

Got a thing for guys with gorgeous long hair. He pulls it off too well ❤

RIGHTTT

Yesssss

That's one of the best character descriptions ever!

@@harrysecombegroupie Can you please explain ? I don't understand

@@rajaharrag667 It means that while Richard is intelligent, he lives in his own fantasy world, unable or unwilling to see that his actions have serious consequences for himself and others. Perhaps because he's never had to deal with the real world, or just doesn't want to. He's like an immature, dramatic teenager who acts like they're the star of their own tv soap opera.

@@harrysecombegroupie Thank you so much for your reply ! I understand it better now

Well said. I like this version a lot more than Ben Whishaw's Hollow Crown one, because Whishaw played him as such a wimp that it was embarrassing (both for the other characters and the audience) to watch his self-indulgent whining, whereas Tennant provokes exasperation because, annoying as he may be, he has enough presence and charisma that you want to watch him anyway. Don't get me wrong, I think Whishaw's interpretation was a perfectly good one for the character, and he portrayed Richard's total unworthiness for authority perfectly, but I prefer a Richard who has the force of personality to command attention despite your dislike for him, rather than a simpering nonentity you'd rather ignore.

Don't blame me for that, but I totally agree.... :-D

***** There's no such thing as a perfect actor. But he was the best fit for the part in this particular production. I'll have to see if I can catch the King and Country Cycle in London - I have enough time, but not quite so much money - I'd love to see how different it'll be from last time. That apart I love him, and I will defend him against everyone who says a bad word about him.

LOL! I had a similar thought! Tennant is amazing...

David G. I guess that's the gist of the scene, he knows he has to go, but he really doesn't want to (and given what happens after I'd say he wasn't entirely wrong either).

I love him too! I saw him first in doctor who, but I feel as though he doesn't get recognized for the rest of his marvelous work.. I completely agree with you!

Thank you! I think people judge him too, I don't understand why though? They should see he's got a real talent :)

Bella Scott Yeah they should. :3

Twelf

Statement of the obvious, I know, but Ben's performance is for Television and David's for the live stage - two completely different ways of acting and comparisons really aren't valid.

You say bastard or hero but every roll I've ever seen him in is very much both

Susan Hill my arm would fall off! Hehehe 😂

Amrita Sengupta I don't know which country you are in but the RSC and The National Theatre company have started screening their most popular productions in cinemas around the world, so if you are lucky you might be able to catch a video of live performance at a cinema near you. PBS in the U.S. often also show such productions.

That is the thing. I am not from any of these countries. I am sorry for the rant. But it saddened me a bit to see how people are lucky and dont see it. I am not. 

Amrita Sengupta It is available on DVD.

Yes i found it :) thanks :D

ron Chad. And you reek of charmlessness.

They are laughing at the way Tennant calls Henry to take the crown, he does it playfully, almost patronising his cousin. It is a well timed bit of comic relief to break the tension and a clever interpretation by the actor. I don't think it demands 'dead silence' If something is funny, the audience should laugh. A well directed play will offer many such devices. The target audience for this production is broad and includes a great many young students. It is a very good production.

Laughter is often a cathartic release of tension

didn't expect overlap between Shakespeare and KOTOR II but I suppose a good story is a good story no matter who wrote it

It was a live performance in Stratford in 2013. Pretty sure you can watch it on Amazon Prime or something similar

You can buy it on DVD shop.rsc.org.uk/products/richard-ii-rsc-blu-ray-2014 and it's available with lots of others shows on BroadwayHD, Marquee TV, Digital Theatre and BritBox.

+myra chirumiya You'd probably need to buy or rent the DVD.

+myra chirumiya P.S. This is not the first act. It's towards the end of the play.

Giang Huynh I totally agree with you. I mean, that's the consequence of playing such a culturally popular character. You can't really play any other part without The Doctor lurking behind it. They're also probably laughing because they're trying to interpret the language. The repetition and "physical comedy" allows them to understand what's going on.

They absolutely played it for laughs. It was even funnier in the revival two years later. Richard was mocking Bolingbroke. He was very sarcastic and showing how foolish he was.

I saw this at the theatre. They were not laughing because they were remembering that he played Dr Who. Theatre fans know he's played lots of theatre roles. Laughter is close to sadness and tears. People laughed at any bit of humour to be found because it relieved the tension. There is tragic humour in it because Richard II speeches are tragic but at the same time Richard II is such a drama Queen, drawing as much drama and pathos out of the situation as he can. This is in stark contrast to Bolingbroke (Henry IV to be) who is a bluff unimaginative tough practical military man. Richard is losing in this scene but still seems to dance rings around Bolingbroke in his loss. Bolingbroke doesn't quite know how to react at times.

the one and only Oliver Ford Davies

It's available from the RSC Shop on DVD shop.rsc.org.uk/products/richard-ii-rsc-dvd-2014?_pos=1&_sid=18d1415a4&_ss=r

I doubt it. He plays lots of theatre roles. Why do people assume TV and movies always dictate actors' careers?

It's shakespeare. He was interested in good theatre (and the biases/sensibilities/politics of his day) he didnt care about accuracy. If you want proper history read a book

watching the dvd with subtitles on allows the meaning to bloom

Not strange. Elizabethan English.

roxyqueen2 yes he was a great hamlet.

I think I preferred Ben Wishaw's interpretation too, but maybe it's not a fair comparison, since TV and stage acting involve significantly different techniques? I did see this production at the Barbican and there were many things about it I enjoyed; but there was one thing that to a certain extent spoiled it for me; that was the portrayal of Bolingbroke as little more than a thug, a bruiser. That's not Shakespeare's Bolingbroke at all; yes, he is politically ruthless, but he is far from unfeeling and there is, or should be, a whole subtext of affection, soured maybe but affection all the same, between Bolingbroke and Richard which this production did not explore at all. If you want to see Bolingbroke done properly, then look at Rory Kinnear's superb interpretation opposite Ben Wishaw in 'The Hollow Crown'.

@@jimsmith2902 You know "properly" is a matter of opinion, right?

Fair enough, "properly" was a bad choice of word. Of course directors and actors make choices; sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. This one just didn't work for me.

@@jimsmith2902 Personally, I preferred Jasper Britton's interpretation, which is the one I saw. I also liked it because he carried on as Henry.

The way he says it may be a bit funny.

@@alicedeligny9240 Yeah, you are right. I re watched it recently and I guess it can be. I've got to remember not to type in the moment. Lol. The other version I mentioned just seemed more dramatic. But I get it. Cheers. UK. 18/2/2022

LOL! xD

I agree!