"There I was, among two dozen audience members assigned to play the other characters opposite Emily Carding, who takes on the title role in this British import. We did not have to memorize lines or even repeat them, given that Ms. Carding essentially used us as human props in the hourlong monologue adaptation she has devised. Still, it’s an entertaining way to dress up a solo outing, and Ms. Carding’s coolly psychotic king has a Tilda Swinton-esque flair."
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"Emily Carding plays the infamous Richard III with insight and intelligence, and nails his unique blend of malice, sociopathy, and charm...but what makes the show truly shine is its interactive quality…Carding handles the variety of reactions masterfully throughout, maintaining focus on Richard and his story…It's good enough that it deserves to get a second look off-Broadway, and in my opinion ‘Richard III’ is one of the best Fringe shows in 2016."
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"This is 'Richard III' stripped down to its barest element—the connection between audience and actor. When Richard and the audience click, it’s electric. Emily Carding has the power to change the tone of the room with just the look of an eye...Though it has a bit of a shaky start, 'Richard III (A One Woman Show)' is an undoubtedly unique ride through this classic tragedy."
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"Shakespeare’s most calculating villain does all of the talking while keeping the deadly matter of succession fun. In addition to being a good host, Richard is also a great storyteller...A monologue version of ‘Richard III’ works well to start with because he always lets the audience in on what he’s thinking. With 'Richard III (A One Woman Show),’ he allows them to get closer, whether they want to or not, and it’s okay, because it also means getting closer to Shakespeare.”
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"Without anyone else saying a word, she uses body language, verbal expressions, and in general superb acting to imply what the dialogue of the other characters is supposed to be. The resulting interactions are hilarious...Carding’s Richard is a witty, conniving, elegant creature. As a whole, the production works perfectly, with the rise of the duke and fall of the king coming together in a show that never lags for a second...An absolute success.”
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"A smart, sparse, stripped back version of the text…Veering between oleaginous charm and gleeful malice as he ascends to power, then disintegrating into paranoia once he has seized it, this feels like a properly dangerous Richard…The piece works better in some scenes than others…Paring back the text to one speaker means inevitably some of its richness is lost...But overall, the approach pays off, creating a potent distillation of one of theatre’s greatest villains."
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"Emily Carding’s portrayal of the king who murders his way to the English throne is in a league of its own. Her performance is electric, perfectly capturing Richard’s manic glee as he executes foes, friends and even his own family…This innovative, daring re-imaging of the text means that there's a sense of danger as Richard’s schemes escalate...We are invested and involved in this performance like no other; and what a performance it is."
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"Carding is hypnotically mesmerizing as Richard in a production that perfectly showcases the sheer breadth of her talent as well as her knowledge of Shakespeare. This is Shakespeare unlike anything I have ever experienced before and is truly a fully immersive experience…It is hugely exciting to see Shakespeare brought to life in a way that still has the power to entrance. Whilst never taking away from the sheer brilliance of The Bard's writing, Carding's performance serves as an example to all."
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