Kevin Spacey as Richard III? What an amazing treat that would be. After reading a sort of quasi-review of his performance in the production currently playing at London's Old Vic Theater (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/12/theater/richard-iii-at-old-vic-and-other-london-shows-offer-catharsis.html), I'm more than usually jealous of the cultural riches found in the capitol city of the oldest member of the Commonwealth. It seems like a role that Spacey would explore in an entirely new way, and the thought of it reminds me of how excellent he was in Al Pacino's must-see film, Looking for Richard (1996), in which he plays Buckingham. Of course, Pacino is great in that one as well, and I'm really hoping to someday see him in the (complete) role, as well (either stage or film would do).

It must be considered one of the most amazing things about Shakespeare that his work becomes more interesting with familiarity, not less. And that each time an actor gives a great performance, it makes an audience member want to see more of them. There is no such thing as a definitive Shakespeare performance, and there never will be.