Kingly powers aside, the essence is the man - unadorned. Woodruff directs a powerhouse cast, which includes John Douglas Thompson as the Duke of York and Karen MacDonald as the Duchess of York. The conflict between this couple as parents of a treasonous son makes up some of the most poignant moments in the play. The ART production is simply, yet brilliantly, designed by David R. Gammons. A pool of water is in the center of a wooden gangplank that is the stage for all the action.
Furniture is brought on and off.
Various curtains are drawn, and the scenes change. Catherine Zuber's costumes are an eclectic collection spanning at least five centuries, from modern trousers and leather coats to stiff Elizabethan collars and long robes. Yes, Shakespeare is for all time, and ART's final production for the season rings out in a glorious tribute to the bard. Cape Cod Times. All rights reserved.