Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Walked the dog.  Made popcorn and had a cold pop on the end table next to my favorite chair.  All in prep to watch the much anticipated Free Shakespeare in the Park rendition of Richard III.  Each year there is a different play presented in the open air of Central Park.  They tend to be lively affairs as I think Shakespeare intended - something that would keep the interest of an Elizabethan audience.  Sometimes they are set in different time periods but they keep to the bard's original text.  I'm not a Shakespeare snob but this presentation was jarringly odd.  The actors were clothed for the original time period - lots of leather, tights, and long drapey dresses - except for Queen Elizabeth who wore fur lined robes making her look more like Mrs. Santa Clause than royalty plus the two young princes shod in glitter tennis shoes.  A woman was cast as Richard III.  Didn't have a problem with that.  Shakespeare had to use men in women's roles.  She played it as a man -however- as a man w/ no physical issues.  Her first soliloquey talks about how he's been bullied because of his hunchback and now he's going to get revenge.  OK.  Maybe we as the audience are suppose to pretend he has physical problems.  However, Lady Anne then rolls onto the stage in a wheelchair.  Richard's mother and one other actor can't speak so they sign their lines in ASL.   One of Richard's brothers is a little person.  Two other actors have difficulty walking.  I'm thinking the director is trying to tell me something but I'm not getting it.  If you can figure out what the director was trying to convey - let me know.