Tlaquepaque hosts Shakespeare Sedona's “Richard II”

by Beverly Lehnhardt

Sedona, AZ - July 1, 2008 - A full house packed Tlaquepaque’s cobblestone courtyard Saturday, June 28, opening night of Shakespeare Sedona's production of William Shakespeare’s "Richard II."

This political thriller is Episode One in the “War of the Roses” saga and you won’t be able to understand the rest of the story without seeing it.

The play is believed to have been written in approximately 1595 and may have been intended as a political statement on the contemporary situation. It is also excellent entertainment for our current election year.

Against the velvety, star-studded backdrop of Sedona’s evening sky, Founding Artistic Director Jared Sakren’s hand-picked talent was passionate, riveting, forceful and dynamic. As always, he has brought the best of the best to our stage, providing superlative live entertainment for Northern Arizona theater buffs.

We watched, helpless to change the outcome, as ineffective King Richard, played by Company Associate Artist Jason Barth, exiled his cousin Henry Bolingbroke (powerfully portrayed by AriZoni Best-Actor Richard Baird). Destined to spend the next six years away from his beloved homeland, Bolingbroke eventually hears that his money and his land were seized by the king to pay for a war in Ireland. Incensed, he gathers a willing army and returns to England to reclaim what is rightfully his.

Ultimately, Bolingbroke is crowned king but finds that occupying the throne carries a burdensome responsibility, lamenting, “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.”

The entire cast: Trey Clevenger, Jim Coates, Sandy Elias, Keath hall, Dave Hurley, Amanda Schaar, Andi Watson, and Mitchell Wyatt all give outstanding performances, emphasized by the audience’s standing ovation, making this production of "Richard II" a must-see.

The production team, including Set Designer Patrick Walsh; Fight Choreographer David Barker; Resident Lighting Designer Paul Black; and Resident Composer Richard Jennings as well as several costume designers, also gave outstanding (backstage) performances.

"Richard II" plays in rotation with Shakespeare Sedona's other two plays, "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and "The Taming of the Shrew."

All three shows run on three consecutive weekends with "Richard II" playing Sunday, July 6 and Friday, July 11. All shows begin at 8p.m. and tickets can be purchased online at www.shakespearesedona.com; by calling 1-800-768-9286; or at the Tlaquepaque Information Booth. Dinner and theatre packages are also available.  Single tickets are $25 but discounts are available for Season Tickets and groups.

This year Shakespeare Sedona is sponsored by Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, Briar Patch Inn, La Quinta Inn Sedona, Wells Fargo Bank, M&I Bank, Best Western Inn of Sedona, Sedona Rouge, Kokopelli Inn and Suites, Sedona Real, and Enchantment Resort.

Shakespeare Sedona is a professional equity summer theatre festival and training institute. Founder Jared Sakren believes that “Located in the heart of red rock country, the landscape is one majestic enough to be home to Shakespeare’s largeness of thought and emotion.”

Related articles:

Shakespeare Sedona presents "The Merry Wives of Windsor" at Tlaquepaque on July 4 & 12

Shakespeare Sedona debuts 11th season at Tlaquepaque

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