GEEK N OUT REVIEW
“Super Richard World III”
Reviewer: Robert Southgate
Full disclosure, my daughter is in this show. Also fuller* disclosure, I have no problem giving a show she’s in a bad review. I’m that Dad. Now that I have that out of the way, let’s get to it…
Photo credit - Sam Thomas
Going into Super Richard World III, I avoided spoilers other than the obvious – its Richard III mashed up with the characters and worlds of Nintendo. I had an idea of what I was getting into based on the name, “Stupid Shakespeare Company” and the marketing for the show declaring it to be a stupid show. Surprisingly, they were wrong. It was shockingly smart and well executed. Granted, the concept of mashing up the Bard with the Plumbers is ridiculous, but the result is fresh, dramatic, and truly funny. This production strikes that delicate balance of high drama and absurd comedy that is an incredibly rare thing to behold. Super Richard World III is an accomplishment that stands shoulder to shoulder with the great works of Mel Brooks, Weird Al, and the Zucker Brothers.
Photo credit - Sam Thomas
Richard III is the story of King Edward IV’s younger brother Richard who is so power hungry and bitter about his bother’s success, he hatches a plot to gain the throne. It is a story full of murder and deceit that illustrates how ugly jealousy and greed can be. Richard III is one of Shakespeare’ s Histories, considered by many to be one of his greatest works.
What the Stupid Shakespeare Company has done is taken this powerful story and recast it with characters from Nintendo. Richard is now Luigi, jealous of his brother, Mario. Elizabeth is Princess Peach, Hastings is Zelda, and Buckingham is perennial favorite bad guy, Bowser (referred to here as Bowserham). Classic Nintendo characters abound in this show. There are marquee as well as deep cut characters throughout. The references are fast and furious, yet never tiresome. And while the play is laced with references and fan service nods, it is still completely accessible to people that are unfamiliar with Nintendo. Super Richard World III is a Shakespeare play at its heart that effortlessly finds its comedy without taking away the power of the original work. It reminds me of the best of Weird Al, hilarious comedy that only enhances a great song, never diminishing it.
Super Richard World III is truly a hilarious show that is a must see. It deserves your time.
*Fuller is a perfectly acceptable word now thanks to Netflix and Fuller House.
Photo credit - Sam Thomas
Cast:
Justin Smith as Luigi (Richard III)
Gage Ranchich as Waluigi(Clarence) and K.Rool(Catesby)
Carly Davis as Zelda(Hastings)
Michaela Voit as Daisy(Anne) and Slippy Toad(Messenger)
Mary-Kate Arnold as Princess Peach (Elizabeth)
Val Gerard Garcia as Lord Pikachu(Rivers), Peppy the Hare(Stanley's Messenger) and Meta Knight(Ratcliff)
Gaby Fernandez as Lord Kirby(Grey) and Fox(Stanley)
Phillip Zimmerman as Bowserham(Buckingham) & Donkey Kong(Henri VI)
Katie Ruppert as Pauline (Margret)
Devin May as Mario(King Edward IV), Toad(Lord Mayor) and Diddy Kong(Richmond)
Matt Keeley as Link(Tyrell, Brackenberry, All the Murderers) and Falco(Messenger)
Molly Southgate as Rosalina(Young Elizabeth and Dorset) and Luigi(Richard III)
Coco Kasperowicz: Understudy
Creatives:
Adaptation by - Katie Ruppert , Joshua Messick and the Cast of Super Richard World III with additional cuts from Mary-Kate Arnold
Director - Joshua Messick
Production Design - Dan Sonenberg
Props and Costumes - Dan Sonenberg and Katie Ruppert
Fight Design - Matthew Perry Smith
Sound Design - Joshua Messick
Poster Design - Tiffany Keane Scheafer
Performances will take place in Otherworld’s main stage, “The Bradbury”, thru August 4th, 2019; Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2:30pm.
Otherworld Theatre is located at 3914 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60613 (Street Parking available; CTA Accessible by Sheridan Red Line / 22 Clark). Performances are approximately 100 minutes with intermission.
Otherworld Theatre is a two-stage facility with a main stage that boasts a flexible performance and seating area in its larger The Bradbury space, The Alchemist’s Lab black box space, bar, and lobby located a few blocks north of Wrigley Field. Tickets to all shows are available at www.OtherworldTheatre.org Otherworld maintains mission to keep theatre accessible for all. All main stage tickets are pay-what-you-can, allowing people of any and all means to experience live performance. Otherworld targets theatre patrons of all ages, genders, and races, with a particular focus on fans of Science Fiction and Fantasy, or "genre" storytelling. This is a large, underserved market, particularly when it comes to live theatre. Otherworld’s productions reach a wide ranging audience and multiple fandoms.