Robert Sean Leonard Returns To The Old Globe As Richard II

Roberts homeowner tax on the title role in King Richard the second. Leader that moves into the divine right of kings as he deals with the revolt. Leonard is best known perhaps for his roles in the movie dead poets Society and the TV series house. He also wanted Tony for his role in this. Thank you for joining us. It's my pleasure. He said recently about Richard the second and is one of Shakespeare's few young male characters who are not fickle. What is so compelling about it for you? Always thought they are all just fickle and predictable and loathsome characters. He loved girls you know Juliet and obviously all of the girls in the comity is. They are just brilliant and funny and smart and loyal and wonderful. It is really -- all the meals are really going to play. Richard the to is the gateway of the good male roles. The core of the story is that he is there because of God's will. You think that makes him stronger or weaker Obviously it takes place in the 14th century so there's a transition from divine right of kings to tutor state ship to democracy you notice a clash between a person that believes the best way to live on this earth as a society is to have the divine right has been ordained as a deputy to the Lord. He eventually becomes Henry IV. Is a bit of a man of the people. It's an exciting transition from the times of the divine right of kings to the times of democracies. You mentioned about how it relates to the current situation of people and how it can be. It's about who has a responsibility to what the scribbler is a hot topic it is from supporters and not so supportive. You know this play is sitting right in the middle of the highway with the trucks blasting by and it is really exciting and funny. The director of the play Erika Schmidt says it speaks to with old selves. I guess that means there is a whole scene where Richard brings out the mirror when it is being deposed. They see these and look at the exterior and said is this the face that under the roof kept 10,000 men. This is the face that like the sun did make the holders squint. It smashes the mirror on the ground. And there it is cracked and 100 shivers. That is the inner self and outer self. Kevin Spacey often says that this role -- there is a moment where he says that it destroyed my face. King Henry IV -- which is to say that again and actually realizes that he's right. He said my grief rises again whether it is tantrums or tears. Whether it is just the way you are sad with your body and the unseen grief that lies within and says the line that Kevin Spacey feels is the most important line of the play he says there lies the surface and -- substance. It's battle of what is important. Shakespeare's like doing four plays at once. They were giving out and I have to tell him. The scope of Shakespeare's journeys has to and it is a very clipped production and is very fast.. Blindingly unsurprisingly they have thought about as poetic. Tori Kittle's replacement under the fourth and he will not seen on stage. He just walks on. For that the women in the bars after the show I don't have a chance. He is one sexy presence. To me that is the fun part of the night. It is worth going to the globe to see. You been performing that the 20 years? I did apply there without homework and when I meet you three or four years ago. Your relationship with the globe It is wonderful to sit down and a beautiful theater to watch a play as beautiful as Shakespeare. When that is not done that often. You will not get that many chances to see Richard the second. Don't do it that often. Once the city our production they will start doing it because they will realize what an exciting and incredibly fun and theatrical event it is. We need somebody like him to bring that out. And director and a way that it is a fun night of theater. There is no better place than practice it under the beautiful summer sky and get lost in Shakespeare's world. Thank you so much for joining us today. King Richard is playing through July 15.