Jonathan Bailey impresses as Richard II
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Richard II
I consider Richard II to be my favourite Shakespeare play after Hamlet. I have seen it at least six times between 2000 and 2013 and can only find one London production since my favourite in 2013 of David Tennant directed by Gregory Doran for the RSC. I never saw Fiona Shaw at the National in 1995 directed by Deborah Warner. My first in 2000 was Ralph Fiennes at the Almeida, followed by Mark Rylance at the Globe in 2003 and of Kevin Spacey directed by Trevor Nunn in 2005. Jonathan Slinger was Michael Boyd’s choice in 2008 until two handsome actors Eddie Redmayne for Michael Grandage at the Donmar in 2011 and David Tennant directed by Gregory Doran for the RSC in 2013. I missed Simon Russell Beale in 2018.
So we come to Jonathan Bailey the heartthrob from Bridgerton who has a strong stage presence and recently played in Mike Bartlett’s Cock. Richard II is very much a play of two halves. In the first act we see Richard as a young and inexperienced king making bad decisions. Richard II was ten years old when he became king, his father the Black Prince having died of dysentery the year before.
His uncles have run the kingdom for him since the death of his grandfather Edward III and it is the killing of one uncle, the Duke of Gloucester, which precipitates the first crisis in the argument between Bolingbroke (Royce Pierreson) and Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk (Phoenix Di Sebastiani).
The first “trial” scene has Richard adjudicating between Bolingbroke and Mowbray when Bolingbroke’s ultimate banishment, although shortened, is a cause of great upset to his father John of Gaunt (the night I saw played by Martin Carroll for an indisposed Clive Wood). Bailey plays Richard as a monarch of short attention span who seems not to listen to others but to be concentrating on what he wants to do next. He decides firstly to settle the dispute with a duel with knives in the pit and then cuts it short, banishing both men. His decisions seem spontaneous and he doesn’t take advice.
We see Richard with his three cronies Bushy (Jordan Kouamé), Bagot (Adam Best) and Green (Amanda Root) carousing and taking cocaine. John of Gaunt makes his famous and beautiful speech “This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle” and his visit from his nephew sees the king behaving badly towards his uncle. The news breaks that with the death of his father, Bolingbroke is returning to England.
In Act Two, the parallel trial scene sees Richard II accused and Bolingbroke claiming the crown. Richard holds out the crown to him and just as Bolingbroke might take it, Richard snatches it away three times like a teasing child. This second act should be full of pathos but the Bridgerton fans giggle at these darker moments.
Michael Simkins is the Duke of York whose comic family scenes are the light relief in Act Two as their son Aumerle (Vinnie Heaven) having plotted against Bolingbroke needs a pardon. The ensemble cast are reliable with Nicholas Hytner’s direction ensuring a unified production. The gun which accompanies Bolingbroke’s invasion is impressive as is Royce Pierreson’s London debut.
I liked the use of the flexible stage space in the surround with a pit that lowers and for the trial scenes blocks that rise using Bob Crowley’s design. The clothing is modern dress and modern as the king’s predicaments are, the choice of a more recent setting negates the premise of the divine right of an anointed king, which is the burden Henry IV carries for his lifetime.
Bailey is an interesting Richard II sadly hampered by his fan base but it is a pleasure to see this play once more in the main repertoire.
Editor of TheatreVibe.co.uk
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Production Notes
Richard II
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Nicholas Hytner
Cast
Starring:
Adam Best
Emma Bown
Jonathan Bailey
Royce Pierreson
Stephan Boyce,
Christopher Osikanlu Colquhoun
Olivia Popica
Amanda Root
Phoenix Di Sebastiani
Clive Wood
Michael Simkins
Seamus Dillane
Vinnie Heaven
Jordan Kouamé
Gerard Monaco,
George Taylor
Badria Timimi
Martin Carroll
Creatives
Director: Nicholas Hytner
Designer: Bob Crowley
Composer: Grant Olding
Lighting Designer: Bruno Poet
Sound Designer: Carolyn Downing
Movement: James Cousins
Fight Director: Kate Waters
Information
Running Time: Two hours 40 minutes including an interval
Booking to 10th May 2025
Theatre:
The Bridge Theatre
3 Potters Fields Park
London, SE1 2SG
Phone: 0333 320 0051
Website: The Bridge Theatre
Rail/Tube: London Bridge
Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge
at the Bridge Theatre
on 19th February 2025