The Donmar swan song of Michael Grandage CBE
The Donmar Theatre:
Michael Grandage's swan song as artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse Theatre is entirely apposite to his decade-long tenure, for "Richard II" shows Shakespeare's king come to maturity, giving up his crown with grace. Since succeeding Sam Mendes in 2002, Mr. Grandage has added continued luster to the Donmar, and made theater history with production after production.This "Richard II," which he directs, is no exception. Richard Kent's gilded Gothic set is extraordinarily beautiful, and is made both awesome and mysterious by David Plater's lighting, while Adam Cork's music is unobtrusively moving—culminating in a passage where the king, imprisoned in "Pomfret" (Pontefract) Castle, seems to hear a vague melody and sings in quiet harmony and peace.
A decade seems a very short span, but Grandage has immense achievements and plans.
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