Counter-Productions Theatre to Stage RICHARD III, 5/8-17

Counter-Productions Theatre Company presents Richard III, written by William Shakespeare and directed by Terry Shea.

"Since I cannot prove a lover, to entertain these fair well-spoken days, I am determined to prove a villain, and hate the idle pleasures of these days."

William Shakespeare's murderous Richard will stop at nothing to be king of England. With wit and scheming, he weaves a bloody trail through his own family in his quest for power. Counter-Productions Theatre Company will close its eighth season with this tale of intrigue and violence in the 15th century English monarchy. This production is particularly timely because of the recent discovery and formal reburial of the much maligned king in Leicester, England.

"With a resurgence of interest in Richard, Duke of Gloucester, the usurper to the throne, we hear more and more about Richard the man and less and less about Richard, the monster," says the play's Director Terry Shea. "Counter-Productions' plans to stage Richard III predates the recent media attention, but it only seems right that we are guided along by these contemporary events as we explore who Richard was and who he may not have been. An intimate, personal approach, we explore a cold, calculated killer, certainly, but also an opportunity to see things from his point of view, as broken as that may have been. Perception is everything and we are taking a chance to maybe see things a little differently with this Richard III."

In the title role of Richard III is Michael Puppi. He is joined by Valerie Remillard Myette as Queen Elizabeth, Geoff Leatham as the Duke of Buckingham, Christin J. Goff as Queen Margaret, Becky Minard as the Duchess of York, Paige Barry as Lady Anne, Ted Clement as George, Duke of Clarence, Adam Florio as Edward IV, Jonathan Fisher as Henry, Earl of Richmond, John McGowan as Edward, Prince of Wales, Haley Pine as Richard, Duke of York, R. Bobby as Sir William Catesby, Bill Pett as Lord Hastings, Billy Flynn at Lord Stanley, Steven Zailskas as Sir Richard Ratcliff, Zivko Babic as the Marquis of Dorset, PJ Marchand as the Bishop of Ely, Kevin Broccoli as Sir James Tyrrel, and Matthew Parker as the Lord Mayor of London.

Counter-Productions Theatre Company will present this tale of political intrigue at AS220's Blackbox at 95 Empire Street in Providence, RI. Runs May 8, 9, 15, 16 at 7:00pm and May 10, 17 at 2:00pm. Admission is $20.