Shakespeare in the Park actors present dynamic rendition

'Lend me your ears' dear fellow countrymen for I have a tale to tell you of mayhem, deceit and murder. The wandering minstrels had come to town to share their story not in a 'Wooden O' but on a beautiful wooden stage placed under the stars and trees so tall. These vagabond artists were from the Montana Shakespeare In The Parks organization – a theatrical outreach program of the University of Montana. They had come from far and near to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare – the Bard of Avon. To be sure, it is the 44th season of the group who will take their story to 62 Montana villages this season. In addition to these Shakespeare In The Parks presentations, the Company is also involved in Special events which include musicals and education in the schools events.

Richard III was the first recorded work of Shakespeare having been written in the early 1590s. It is considered the second longest play written by the Bard of Avon and is rarely performed unabridged. Kevin Asselin, the Director of this offering, stated

that they had put off performing this play because of its length and dark themes. But with the current cast they undertook this task to show the playfulness and the relevant issues contained within the story.

This cast of 10 professional actors, in addition to being the stage crew, took on over 20 complex characters that round out the story. A story which is orchestrated by Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who plans to seize the throne from his brother, Edward IV.

His plan is to spread rumors, kill those in his way or imprison them, marry for convenience, spread fear and riots, and depict himself as a religious man.

As his plan unfolds, his madness deepens and on the night before a battle with the Earl of Richmond and his French troops, Richard is visited by the ghosts of those he has killed. In his madness, Richard meets his fate in this his 'winter of discontent.'

The Company's actors, Ben Barker, Nate Cheeseman, Michael Gonring, McKenna Kelly-Eiding, Sasha Kostyrko, Maeve Moynihan, Nick Narcisi, Riley O'Toole, Eric Pearson and Sam Pearson, effectively capture the characters involved in this 'game that is afoot,' and earn the rousing ovation at the end.