Fiennes Shines Before The Stars





By Robert Gore-Langton
The Express
13 April 2000





Richard II



Cate Blanchett, Glenn Close, Donald Sutherland and Joseph Fiennes all braved the rain to watch Ralph Fiennes play Richard, the poet king, in this derelict film studio.


I doubt any of them were disappointed. The building is the co-star. How brilliantly the Almeida Theatre Company has reclaimed this vast warehouse for Shakespeare's most exquisite play. The temporary stage has real unmown grass and fruit trees. The back wall a 30-ft high crack in the brickwork. It was like watching medieval drama in a vast industrial abbey.


Fiennes is a terrific Richard, too - a gleefully childish prat given to disastrous judgments. When his crown is usurped by the avenging Bolingbroke (a wonderfully steely Linus Roache) his whingeing gives way to aching regret and recrimination. The drawling voice and spiritual quality that are Fiennes's strongest suits are mesmerisingly deployed over the last two acts.


The play, though, features acres of rhmyed poety and not much action. In poor productions it's pleasant to listen to but seriously boring. In Jonathan Kent's production it washes over you like some thrilling symphony. The only note of disappointment was Emilia Fox as an annoying Queen Isabel in a daft Rapunzel wig.

 

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