BBC Sherlock Fan Forum - Serving Sherlockians since February 2012 / Richard III

**Posted by gently69** July 8, 2014 8:14 am

Yeah, must be really interesting to see Martin in this. But no way for me to make my way to London. I'm there in October. Too late ..

**Posted by Sherlock Holmes** July 8, 2014 2:18 pm

Both Martin and Jamie Lloyd have refuted claims (via Twitter) that the audience has behaved anything less than perfectly.

**Posted by Sherlock Holmes** July 8, 2014 2:21 pm

Whoops sorry...you guys already covered that on the previous page.

Anyway, I'm going to see it on August 8th. Ridiculously excited. We should start a Spoilers Thread for people who've seen it.

**Posted by gently69** July 8, 2014 2:24 pm

Wow, I am jealous.
Have a lot of fun.

**Posted by SusiGo** July 9, 2014 7:37 pm

Here is an interview with Martin which should put every rumour to rest.

http://jennaknowsash.tumblr.com/post/91276930453/dex5m-martins-comments-on-fans-ruining

**Posted by gently69** July 9, 2014 7:57 pm

Well, that are clear words. Thanks, Susi ... and Martin.

And I like to add once more, that I don't need my doctors clean shaven. I really love the beard.

**Posted by Sherlock Holmes** July 9, 2014 8:22 pm

Awww, he's such a sweetie.

**Posted by stoertebeker** July 10, 2014 5:04 am

gently69 wrote:
Well, that are clear words. Thanks, Susi ... and Martin.

And I like to add once more, that I don't need my doctors clean shaven. I really love the beard.

Yeah, he really looks very handsome with the beard.

**Posted by tonnaree** July 10, 2014 11:46 am

He does look handsome with it. Which I don't understand because I usually do not go for facal hair.

**Posted by gently69** July 10, 2014 11:51 am

Normally it is my taste neither. But with Martin ... yes ... really nice!!!

**Posted by Sherlock Holmes** July 11, 2014 8:56 am

I'm wondering whether I should re-read Richard III before I go. What do you guys think?

**Posted by SusiGo** July 11, 2014 9:22 am

Read at least a summary. I saw a production here in Germany last week and was glad that I could remember the complicated family relationships.

**Posted by tonnaree** July 11, 2014 11:46 am

Sherlock Holmes wrote:
I'm wondering whether I should re-read Richard III before I go. What do you guys think?

I always do a little reviewing of the text before Shakespeare.

**Posted by DorsetDeb** July 11, 2014 4:26 pm

I'm going to see Richard III on July 19th - really looking forward to it!! Sounds like it's going to be an exciting production.
Don't know the play at all - so thought I'd better read it. Just got to Act III and I think it's going to be amazing. I get a bit confused about what has happened historically leading up to the events in the play. A lot of stuff is referenced about previous characters being murdered etc. but it's not really clear exactly what's happened. I think it probably won't matter on the night though.

I've seen a bit of Shakespeare before - and I think it is definitely better to be a bit familiar with the play if possible - just to try and not miss out on stuff!

Last edited by DorsetDeb (July 11, 2014 4:29 pm)

**Posted by Sherlock Holmes** July 12, 2014 11:57 am

I made a Richard III roleplay profile on Facebook last night. It's my head canon that he ran into the TARDIS during a battle and accidentally got brought to this time.

**Posted by Sherli Bakerst** July 19, 2014 7:18 am

Here's a review by the chief theater critic of The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/19/theater/in-london-the-latest-richard-iii-is-a-bureaucrat.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=HpSectionSumSmallMedia&module=pocket-region&region=pocket-region&WT.nav=pocket-region

It's not particularly flattering...

**Posted by asyouwish** July 20, 2014 3:18 am

I loathe Brantley, so I hadn't even bothered reading his take on it. Variety gave it a very good review, and I've seen a few other solid ones as well. I haven't been paying much attention though since I'm not seeing it.

**Posted by A lovely light** July 20, 2014 7:10 am

I think there is either hate or love for this play. I saw some bad reviews (guardian, Telegraph) and some very good (for example (spoiler galore!) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/10958942/Richard-III-Trafalgar-Studios-chilling.html and http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/theater-review-richard-iii-at-718971 ). Loads of people on twitter like it (inclusive Ken Follet), some few don't.

Those expecting the same canon-Shakespeare Richard III just in 70 set would be dissapointed. No Olivier Richard, no Sher Richard. The choosen set has a great importance for the way Richard is played and those not knowing that era might not understand all decisions made by Lloyd.

I lived myself 14 under a dictatorship (partially in the set era), my family lived under 3 different ones, i so can see the symbolistic - it is spot on for the times i lived. And i would have been very disspointed had Lloyd choosen just to bring in the modern times the play but not the persons in the play. Lloyd had maybe too much symbols and that might be tricky to get if you lived for your whole life in a peacefully democracy and you are not interested in the european history of XX century - his interviews are very interesant if you want to understand his vision. It is a very particular one, not for everybody to like. It would been far easier if they have choosen to play in a conservative way the expected villain Richard, they went on other jurney - wenn you do that you have to be prepared you won't get only love.

For the people going to see it, may be helpful to look at the footage of the european dictatorships of that times and look a bit at those dictators to get it.

**Posted by Sherlock Holmes** July 22, 2014 9:22 am

I'm not reading any of the reviews because I don't want anything to cloud my own judgement before I see it. Having said that, I am extraordinarily bias and seeing as Martin is one of my favourite actors I basically enjoy everything that he does, so I do realise that I'll probably end up loving it.

Quite a few of my friends have been to see it already and are going in for repeat performances to see it two or three or sometimes four times, so that's obviously a good sign. Even if you were a fan of the actor I think, if it wasn't that good, you'd still probably only see it once.

Apparently, if you want to get covered in blood, you should try and get A14 and A15.

**Posted by Sherlock Holmes** August 1, 2014 8:11 am

£15 Richard III tickets for August and 1st September go on sale at 10am this morning. Man, I'm so excited that I actually ended up having a dream I was in a play with Martin last night...and he let me stay at his house because it was nearer and we hung out together all day and travelled in to the theatre together every night and became best buddies.