Richard II

It's been a good year for Shakespeare's play focusing on the titular 14th-century English king whose high-handed rule led to his deposition and brutal execution, followed by the accession of Henry Bolingbroke and his Lancastrian line. Rupert Goold's film version starring Ben Whishaw was the highlight of the BBC series The Hollow Crown (VL-1/14), and now Gregory Doran's 2013 staging for Stratford-upon-Avon's Royal Shakespeare Company delivers a strong alternative, perhaps lacking the cinematic flourishes of Goold's adaptation but sporting an equally impressive lead performance by David Tennant. In the early scenes the former Doctor Who embodies Richard's casual cruelty with disarming ease, but later earns some of our sympathy even while portraying the deposed monarch as flighty and politically obtuse to the bitter end. Doran surrounds Tennant with a superb supporting cast that delivers the verse with precision and authority on an elegantly simplistic set that employs some rear projection to accentuate the period costumes. The audience reaction at times feels intrusive, but that is the price one pays for the substantial benefits of a live performance, which is here captured with excellent visuals and sound. DVD extras include an audio commentary by Doran, an interview with Tennant, behind-the-scenes featurettes and a cast gallery. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)