Steadstyle Chicago
	October 2009 Theatre Review by Alan Bresloff
	Richard III Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier opened its 10th season (hard to believe it is ten years) with a masterful production of "Richard III".  Shakespeare's most enduring play is known as his first stage success.  This is a very dark play dealing with the most diabolical of his characters, yet a man of charm that takes the audience in and although we hate him for what he does, we are fascinated by his character.  He is a hunchback, and yet his deformity does not keep him from power.  Richard is played skillfully by Wallace Acton, who is one of Washington D.C.'s best known Shakespearean actors and is brilliant in his cunning, winning the audience over despite his crimes. This production is directed by Barbara Gaines, the Artistic Director of CST, and one can see her love and adoration of this play through the direction she has taken.  There is no real set and the stage is composed of several levels that appear to be black and Lucite.  The backdrop also is black with one spot of white and another scene with red curtains used.  In fact until the ghost scene, which in itself is worth the price of admission along with the fight sequence (a marvel with fight choreography by Robin H. McFarquhar), we are watching the action on a bare or almost bare stage.  This allows the action and words to be absorbed better by the audience and I found it very special.  The lighting by Robert Wierzel and the sound and music by Lindsay Jones all add to this production's impact on the audience.  Susan E. Mickey's costumes and James Savage's special effects designs are just the icing on the cake. Ms. Gaines has put together a very strong cast, many of whom are regulars on her stage: Kevin Gudahl, Phillip James Brannon, Angela Ingersoll, Dan Kenney, John Lister, Wendy Robie, Juan Gabriel Ruiz, Mary Ann Thebus, Demetrios Troy, Mark D. Hines, Marc Grapey, Jennifer Harmon, James Anthony Zoccoli, Kevin Cox and John Reeger.  Newcomers to the CST but not to Chicago theater are Steven Pringle, Brendan Marshall Rashid, Marc Grapey and Matt DeCaro.  The cast is rounded out with a double cast.  Prince Edward is played by Scott Baity Jr. and the Duke of York by Matthew Heffernan on alternate dates, and tonight's cast they were played by Joshua Heinlein (Duke of York) and Samuel L. Johnston (Prince Edward).  This is a large cast and even then many play dual roles.  One can always count on standout performances by Lister, Gudahl and Reeger on this stage and Wendy Robie is marvelous as Queen Elizabeth. There is no doubt that Richard III is the man you love to hate as he does all he can to seize the throne and become the King of England.  This is the final chapter of Shakespeare's chronicle of the English Wars of The Roses (Lancaster being the red and York the white) and the building of the ending is a theatrical experience that one will not forget.  Richard has seduced almost everyone in the cast as well as the entire audience.  We are all woven around his little finger with the exception of Queen Elizabeth and the Earl of Richmond who takes him on in the final scene.  Richard III is a brilliant character and Ms. Gaines' production is equal to the task. There is brilliance on Navy Pier and will continue to be until November 22, 2009.  Performances are Wednesdays at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 7:30 p.m. (on November 6 at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at  3 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.  Tickets range from $55 to $75 and are available at the box office, by phone at 312-595-5600 or at www.chicagoshakes.com.  The theater is located at 800 E. Grand Ave on Navy Pier where discounted parking is available and CTA buses come right to the Pier.  There are many other things to see and plenty of dining spots, so make a day of it and enjoy one of Chicago's special treats.   About Alan Bresloff Alan Bresloff, once an actor himself, has been covering the Chicago Theater Scene since 1993, first as the Theater and Arts critic for LaRaza newspaper, then with Salsachicago.com and then onto Extra Newspaper and The Epoch Times.  He also writes for ElImparcial and TeleGuia.  His reviews can also be seen on www.theatreinchicago.com.  Alan does not call himself a "critic" but a "reviewer" as he tries to educate the reader about theater itself, what is a good value, what to look for in a play or musical and more.  "Exposure to theater is a very important part of a young person's life" he says. "Learning about the arts and culture is in fact learning about life" and he tries to explain more in his reviews than just if it is good or bad.  Even some of the poor productions have some value, he often says and he would love your feedback on shows that you have seen.  You can write him here or at albresloff@sbcglobal.net.