Oh Noes, Trinity Rep!

I love solid local theater as much as the next gal (well, probably less, but whatever) but the new ad for Providence's Trinity Rep performance of Shakespeare's Richard III has me ticked off in a bad, bad, nerdy way.

'Cause it kind of gives the impression that Richard III did and was all of the things Shakespeare wrote he did and was. Which, scholars pretty much agree, he did not. Shakespeare was writing, like all writers, a) for fun and b) for politics. In a word: Lies!

First they call Richard a

"villainous king"

and then, well, they (meaning whoever wrote the highly effective ad) slander him some more.

I suggest everyone go see the play and then immediately familiarize yourself with the true events of Richard III's interesting and often tragic life by reading Josephine Tey's brilliant novel, The Daughter of Time.

I'm going to go off and pretend to be angry about something more important now.

Truth is the daughter of time.
(Aulus Gellius)

So let's get with it, people.

PS I was also disapointed to see that in Trinity's online supplementary material concerning their educational programs, they never mention a historical discussion. Instead, they focus on the 'art.' Phooey.