Wars of the Roses: Henry VI & Richard III

See it if you are looking to see how Shakespeare treats Richard II over the course of two of his plays. The acting is first rate throughout

Don't see it if you are not a fan of the History plays. This one is not full of the beautiful phrases you find in the other plays.

Also It helps to have a working knowledge of English history before going to this... Read more Read less

See it if You follow Austin Pendleton anywhere. Shakespeare lover who needs a fix of any kind.

Don't see it if Not particularly interested in WS or a three hour sit in the dead of summer. Inconvenient venue.

Also This is not a must see. It felt more like a staid workshop than a production. The actors got more out of it than the audience. Sets and costumes were too spare and lackluster. Pendleton and deRogartis are excellent royals. deRogartis is all on one plane vocally, which gets boring no matter how high his body count. Clarence's scene with his killers may have hijacked the production. Richard wooing Lady Anne was also interesting. Wonderful scene with ghosts returning to haunt the unsympathetic serial killer. I wanted to stab him myself after three hours. Excessive characters and history to juggle if unfamiliar with the plays. Violence at top unsettling. WR is quite a bleak experience overall. Expensive ticket; price should be $18. Squarely a so-so evening.... Read more Read less

See it if you love Shakespeare's history plays even when they're cut so close to the bone, they're much harder-than-usual to follow.

Don't see it if you dislike over-acting, missed lines, banal direction, and a cast more like high school than off-Broadway.

See it if (for Richard III) you want be exhausted at the intense, raw, emotional, and intimate production of a Shakespeare masterpiece. Don't miss it!

Don't see it if you know you don't like 3-hr long Shakespeare plays. If you're in a real bad family situation...because this is all about BAD families.

Also Loved the actors who played Margaret, Clarence, & (of course) Richard III. This production was so intimate and intense that I viscerally felt the emotions throughout the play which left me drained.... Read more Read less

See it if Very well done. Exceptional acting.

Don't see it if You do not want to think at the theater.

See it if An incredible cast with tour de force performances from all of the major players. Richard, Elizabeth, Margaret with fine supporting players

Don't see it if You can't follow fast paced Elizabethan language or the history plays are beyond your comprehension

See it if A Must see for Lovers of Shakespeare. The brilliance of joining Henry 6/3 & Richard III brings out all the family drama & humor of the plays

Don't see it if Just go see it

Also Director Austin Pendleton's work as both actor (Henry 6) & Director of the combined plays are inspired. Debra Lass as Mad Queen Margaret is a titan on stage in a massive and massively complex role when combined with the simple grace and power of Johanna Leister is the perfect counterpoint that balances the struggles of the women fighting for a place in their world and to just stay alive within all the intrigue. Their 3 queens scene with the veteran Carolyn Groves is a master class. Finally Matt de Rogatis' Richard III scales the heights and plumbs the depths of the part with skill, emotional power and villainous delight without ANY mustache twisting. A real Richard who is spinning out of control almost solely due to his father's death and the loss of direction and focus that creates in him. The small scale of 16 actors with no set to speak of simply walking on stage and telling us the story renders the play in ways any intelligent theatre goer can follow and FEEL. Bravo to all!... Read more Read less

See it if This is a small off-broadway theater experience with the ambition and heart of a feature film studio.

Don't see it if If you can't keep up with Shakespearean lore, just realize the root of this retelling is based on Richard III’s inhibited rage.