“Richard III” is a villain many love to hate. “Richard III” is a villain many love to hate. ADVERTISING Over two weekends in July, the Hilo Community Players (HCP) will present William Shakespeare’s famous drama in Kalakaua Park in downtown
“Richard III” is a villain many love to hate.
Over two weekends in July, the Hilo Community Players (HCP) will present William Shakespeare’s famous drama in Kalakaua Park in downtown Hilo.
“The atmosphere of the drama is dark, and a little spooky, and so it will be performed under the shade of the park’s enormous banyan tree,” said HCP spokesman Hal Glatzer.
“Richard — the title character — schemes to make himself king by eliminating everyone who stands in his way. But he is a charmer, and — almost against our will — we root for him to succeed.”
Blesson Allen, who plays Richard, grew up in Hakalau and Hilo.
“There have been many interpretations of Richard III,” he says. “He’s been seen as violent, humorous, angry, irrational. I’m trying to bring all of those elements into my performance.”
“Richard III” is the 35th annual HCP Shakespeare in the Park production, and the fifth to be directed by University of Hawaii at Hilo Professor Jackie Pualani Johnson. It will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday July 12-14; at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 15; and at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday July 19-21. Admission is free.
Visit www.hilocommunityplayers.org.
