"Richard III" - Review by Jeffrey Leibham
*** RECOMMENDED For lovers of Shakespeare, and especially for patrons of Chicago Shakespeare Theater, this is most definitely not the winter of our discontent. Edward Hall, Chicago Shakespeare Theater's new artistic director, is making his directorial debut with a smashing and gore-filled "Richard III" which is, quite simply, the most accessible version of this great work that you are likely ever to see. Shrewdly revising some of the text by transposing certain scenes, combined with an audacious choice in casting of the titular role and assembling a dynamite design team, Hall has stamped this "Richard III" with a distinctive style. The resulting production is brazenly original, skillfully executed (pun intended) and downright disturbing. Oh...it's terribly funny, too. 3.5 SPOTLIGHTS