J. Combs news

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Combs takes ‘Mischievous Melodrama’ into 19th Century London

Richard III opens at Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival on July 1

 

Posted: Friday, June 24, 2005 09:48 am PST

 

Members of the Richard III cast including (l to r) Anne Lockhart, Lane Davies, Jane Longenecker and Julia Duffy.

THOUSAND OAKS, CA – Director Jeffrey Combs plans to take Richard III, often described as Shakespeare’s “nasty comedy,” into 19th century London. Set to open on Friday evening, July 1, the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company’s production will star veteran actor Lane Davies as the dastardly Richard who creates a bloody path on the way to the crown.

 

Combs, who has starred in more than 40 films, is best known for his portrayal of Herbert West in the cult classic Re-Animator. With most of his film credits falling into the science fiction/horror genre, he is well practiced in the art of creating a mischievous melodrama. A former Star Trek character and current 4400 cast regular, Combs says he believes Richard III fits perfectly into that “intrigue-filled world of London in the late 1800s.”

 

He plans to take tragic Richard with all of his black-hearted ambitions into the time of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Frankenstein, with the feel of the “old cloak and dagger thrillers and wicked monster movies.”

 

Performances of Richard III will be held July 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 22, 23 and 24. Co-produced by the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company and California Lutheran University, this year’s festival also includes performances of The Merry Wives of Windsor on July 15, 16, 17, 29, 30, 31, Aug. 5, 6 and 7. The grounds will open at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking and pre-show entertainment with musicians, dancing, juggling and sword-fighting demonstrations prior to the 8 p.m. curtain call.

 

Admission is $10 for adults, free for those under the age of 18. Lawn box seating is available for $65 and $50. For ticket and lawn box purchase information, call (805) 493-3455 or check the website at www.kingsmenshakespeare.org. The CLU campus is located at 60 W. Olsen Road in Thousand Oaks.

 

http://ww2.clunet.edu/news/news_detail.php...s_story_id=2203