Richard III, Haymarket theatre, November 6, 2003

THE decision to put Richard III on at the Haymarket in French could be seen as either brave or foolhardy.

Ultimately, the success or otherwise, of the play depends on the production and, in this case, it was a mixed bag.

The cast were excellent, with Jrme Bidaux as Richard especially engaging as the twisted King. As the arch-schemer he takes the audience into his confidence and makes us complicit in his wicked deeds.

Cursed from the outset by the women he has wronged, Richard is doomed to failure and it is his coconspirator Buckingham, the excellent Pierre Puy, who brings about his downfall.

Being a nonFrench speaker is an obvious drawback to watching a play, no matter how well known, in French.

I was therefore relieved to learn that the director has decided to include subtitles.

Unfortunately, the translation was almost as cursed as the hunchbacked King himself.

The main problem was that the subtitles felt like an afterthought, hoisted high in the rafters. A cricked neck is guaranteed if you sit near the front, and you are likely to leave the theatre with more than a passing resemblance to bunch-backed King Richard.

Another more forgivable, but no less infuriating, problem, was when the subtitles got out of synch with the actors.

Even with a complete lack of knowledge of French it is possible to follow and enjoy Richard III. The subtitles are a guide to the action and drama on stage. Rather than religiously following the transcript I spent the evening glancing periodically towards the screen.

All in all this is a highly enjoyable production let down by the technicalities of providing a live translation. Perhaps Richard III is both brave and foolhardy, but it has to be admired nonetheless.

Richard III runs at the Haymarket, Basingstoke, until November 8.