Richard 3.5: Light Ruminations on Murder

"Richard 3.5: Light Ruminations on Murder" is a collaboration between Sandglass Theater's Eric Bass and award-winning physical comedian Bob Berky. It’s showtime again, and onstage, live from the 15th century, King Richard III is here to perform, for your enjoyment, 11 murders, not to mention 7 songs that Shakespeare never meant to write. Surrounded by dramatic giant candles, from whose wax the puppet victims are created right before your eyes, Richard and his Emcee accomplice dance and sing their way through this cabaret version of Shakespeare’s famous tragedy. See Richard in a rare television interview, see him win the annual Gloucestershire Pie Eating Contest, see him recount for you (and you only) the extent of his prowess at annihilation. Shakespeare, Berky and Bass collaborate to bring you this night of blood and guts entertainment. Ruminations on murder, and on hope and despair, in a most entertaining form.

As Richard interacts with each of the characters he murders, his accomplice forms their miniature wax selves. Richard sees all people as merely "puppets" in his hands, to be molded as he sees fit. But the puppet, once created, cannot be so easily destroyed. Its spirit, once released, cannot be silenced.

The relationship between the actor and the puppet begs this question: if the human seeks only the material, can the seemingly material contain true humanity?

Created and performed by Eric Bass and Bob Berky
Designed by Ines Zeller Bass
Music by Ralph Denzer
Guitar coach Scott Ainslie