A Noise Within presents “Richard III”

An ill-shaped wretch no sane person would want to gain power. A habitual liar who will say absolutely anything to get ahead. A monster who uses people to get what he wants and then immediately turns upon or discards them. A person for whom the phrase “Conscience is but a word cowards use” could be used as a motto. Remind you of anyone? No, no, no – it’s Richard the Third! A lively and entertaining production of Shakespeare’s Richard III at A Noise Within, to be precise, which features a brilliant, tour de force performance by Ann Noble as the toxic monarch.

1471, England. The winter of our discontent has been made glorious summer by this sun (“son”) of York, and Richard (Ann Noble) isn’t having it. His older brother, Edward (Neill Fleming), is king, and Tricky Dick plans to manipulate everybody around him to gain “the throne majestical” for himself. Many stand against him, including the widows of two kings, Margaret (Trisha Miller) and Elizabeth (Lesley Fera), but with the help of similarly amoral Buckingham (Lynn Robert Berg), Richard becomes King. But not for long. If only he’d had a dependable horse…

Noble delivers an energetic and masterful performance, alternatively chilling and delightful, as a character who continually glances at the audience to share his astonishment that he’s able to pull off his latest brazen deception. Noble is known for her many skilled portrayals, but this is perhaps her most ambitious role, and she dazzles. Miller impresses as the righteously angry Margaret, flinging curses about like she bought them wholesale. Fera excels as the betrayed Elizabeth, and Berg is terrific as the oily but unbothered Buckingham. Fleming is emotionally moving, especially in his speech for his murdered brother, Clarence.

This is very likely the only time I’ve heard Jethro Tull’s “Aqualung” played before a Shakespeare play, and Guillermo Cienfuego’s direction brings a rock-n-roll high energy to the show. His staging is creative and propulsive, his inclusion of a bullhorn is quite amusing, and his use of horror film quick shots of gruesome deaths (including loud musical stings to shock us with a jump scare) is very effective. The clever addition of an informational prologue – an opening scene recapping the historical background of fifteenth-century England – is helpful, and projected supertitles aid notably in this sequence. I suppose the updated setting of this production to “during the 1970s” is meant to align with the rock vibe and to eliminate historical costumes, but that decision seems unnecessary.

Richard III is a superb rendition of this play, and Ann Noble’s bravura performance makes it a must-see show.

Richard III is presented by and at A Noise Within in Pasadena, and plays through March 8, 2026.

Tickets are available at https://www.anoisewithin.org/play/richard-iii/