Richard III
Erin Floyd-Smith as Queen Elizabeth in Richard III — University of California, Irvine (2016)
Synopsis
Working on Queen Elizabeth scenes from Shakespeare's Richard III, likely focusing on Act IV, Scene 4, where Elizabeth confronts Richard after he has murdered her sons and seeks to marry her daughter. This scene showcases Elizabeth's transformation from grieving mother to strategic adversary.
Impressions
Working on Queen Elizabeth with Dr. Robert Cohen was an intensive exploration of one of Shakespeare's most psychologically complex female characters. Elizabeth's confrontation with Richard demands mastery of both emotional truth and political strategy, as she must outmaneuver the man who destroyed her family while maintaining royal dignity. Dr. Cohen's coaching helped me understand how Elizabeth's grief transforms into tactical intelligence, using her pain as a weapon against Richard's manipulations. The scene work required deep analysis of Shakespeare's text to find the layers of meaning beneath Elizabeth's seemingly simple responses to Richard's advances. This character work taught me about the power of controlled emotion and how seemingly powerless characters can find strength through intelligence and moral conviction. Elizabeth's verbal sparring with Richard demonstrated how great Shakespearean characters use language as both shield and sword. The experience enhanced my classical text analysis skills and reinforced my understanding of how personal tragedy can fuel political resistance. Working with Dr. Cohen on this material provided invaluable insight into playing women who survive unimaginable loss while maintaining their essential humanity and strength.
Company
Produced by University of California, Irvine (Wikipedia).