USF Insider's Blog -- Elijah Alexander & Richard III

When I heard that Elijah Alexander was returning after a two year absence, I was pleased. And I was even more pleased when I heard that he was cast as Richard III. I thought he was excellent as Caliban in The Tempest (2007) and Mark Antony in Julius Caesar (2008).

Richard III is one of my favorite plays. I majored in British history in college (not very useful but still lots of fun) and I’ve always been intrigued by the mystery surrounding this play. Is Richard really the evil person Shakespeare paints? Did he really murder the little princes?

So I was eager to learn Elijah’s thoughts about his character and preparation. This is the first time he’s played this role. Here’s what he said about his preparation (early in rehearsals): “Right now I am working on the text and doing a lot of daydreaming about the character… I am also involved in trying to develop an understanding of his wants, desires, needs etc. and cultivate empathy for him as a human being.”

Talking about Richard, Elijah had these thoughts : ” Richard is compelling because he is dogmatic in his campaign for the crown… Richard tells us what he is doing from the get go and how ever deceitful and manipulative he is to the other characters in the play, he always tells the audience the truth… The role of Richard is an actor’s dream because he is a natural performer, agile and mercurial and ever-changing….a chameleon.”

Read the rest of this blog entry here. . . Insider's Bog by Joanne Brattain