4 out of 5 stars

Why is director Craig Baldwin’s adaptation of Richard II set in a brutalist-designed 1980s world? And why does it mix the Bard’s prose with Annie Lenox lyrics? Beats me, but everything somehow works. Perhaps that’s because it’s hard to take your eyes off Michael Urie, starring in the titular role. He brings a masterful naturalism to the iambic pentameter, and his big (but never too big) acting choices make everything accessible and contemporary. (By contrast, the ensemble comes off only as adequate.) Also of note: Rodrigo Muñoz’s lush, ostentatious costuming, reminiscent of vintage Mugler and “Dynasty” reruns all at once. — Justin McCallum

Presented by Red Bull Theater at Astor Place Theatre, through Dec.14, 2025; redbulltheater.com. (Review date: Nov. 10, 2025)