"Richard the Last"
Richard III is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1591, following the rise to power and subsequent short reign of Richard III of England. After Hamlet, it is the longest play in Shakespeare's canon.
References[]
- In The Muppet Show episode 219, Peter Sellers recites a soliloquy from Richard III for Kermit, whilst -- and at the same time -- playing tuned chickens in his dressing room.
- In a Theater in the Park sketch on Sesame Street, Grover and two Anything Muppets are waiting for the hot dog guy, when the royal lackey comes by to tell them that one of them will be chosen as king of the park. However, he tells them that their name must be "Richard the Last." Although the two Anything Muppets claim their names are Richard, they are not last in line. Even though Grover is last in line and his name is not Richard, Grover claims his uncle once call him Richard by mistake and the lackey considers him king of the park. At the sketch's beginning, Grover remarks "Now it is winter and we are not too contented," a paraphrase on the famous line, "Now is the winter of our discontent."
- When Baby Bear can't find Alan to make him some porridge in Episode 4119, he shouts out "My kingdom for some porridge!" This is a paraphrase of the oft-quoted line from Richard III, "A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!"
- In the Monsterpiece Theater sketch, "Much Ado About Nothing", Mr. Johnson cries out "Suckling pig, suckling pig, my kingdom for a suckling pig!"
- Needing a diamond, the King of Diamonds from Sesame Street Episode 4261, calls out "A diamond! A diamond! My kingdom for a diamond!"
Connections[]
- Timothy Bateson played an ostler in the 1955 film version
- Annette Bening played Queen Elizabeth in the 1995 film version
- Jim Broadbent played Buckingham in the 1995 film version
- Jim Carter played Hastings in the 1995 film version
- Robert Downey, Jr. played Rivers in the 1995 film version
- José Ferrer played Richard III in the 1953 Broadway production
- John Gielgud played Clarence in the 1955 film version
- Ian McKellen played the title role in the 1995 film version, as well as in a world tour by National Theatre (1990) and US tour (1992)
- Bill Paterson played Ratcliffe in the 1995 film version
- Vincent Price played Buckingham in the 1953 Broadway production
- Rex Robbins played Buckingham in the 1979 Broadway production
- Maureen Stapleton played Lady Anne in the 1953 Broadway production
- Jaime Sanchez played Ratcliffe and various bits in the 1979 Broadway production
- Kristin Scott Thomas played Lady Anne in the 1995 film version
- John Wood played Edward IV in the 1995 film version