Abstract
Abstract: This article argues that a false dichotomy between “Shakespeare” and “Cibber” has hindered analysis of Richard III ’s performance history. The perceived competition between the Bard of Avon and the hero of the Dunciad has led historians to minimize the importance of truly original adaptations, such as the one performed by John Barrymore in 1920. This article asserts that Richard III is neither a single play by Shakespeare nor a single adaptation by Cibber but instead, as Margaret Jane Kidnie describes, “a dynamic process that evolves over time in response to the needs and sensibilities of its users” (2). The goal of this essay is to advance this understanding of the play so that scholars and practitioners can better appreciate the contributions of theatrical innovators like the Barrymore team.
Published Version
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