The New Murrey and Blue blog

Noel Coward

The “Gentle Villainy” of Richard III….?

Mar 7, 2022

Events, The play’s the thing

Blithe Spirit, Cleveland State Theatre, Noel Coward, Ohio, Outcalt Theatre, Shakespeare, USA

The following is an extract from this site. :- “….The season wraps up with “The Gentle Villainy of Richard III, Troubler of the Poor World’s Peace,” an adapation of William Shakespeare’s “Richard III” running April 21-May 1 at the Outcalt Theatre….” Oh, dear (heavy sigh). Shoving the word “gentle” in front of “villainy” doesn’t…
……. but which Duke was it?

Nov 20, 2014

buildings, genealogy

Belgium, Edward IV, Frederick Duke of York, George III, James VII/II, Noel Coward, Richard Duke of York, Richard III, Salisbury Plain, Sandal Castle, Tourcoing, Wakefield

So who was the “Grand Old Duke of York”, subject of the nursery rhyme and hundreds of pubs? Was it: 1) Richard (1411-60), father of Edward IV and Richard III and senior (Mortimer) claimant almost since birth, who died at Wakefield after descending from Sandal Castle? 2) James (1633-1701), aka James VII/II, who sought to…