“Richard III” in Victorian garb

Resetting Shakespeare’s “Richard III” in Victorian-era England proves a stylish way to play up the dastardly nature of the title character in Jeffrey Combs’ staging for the outdoor Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival in Thousand Oaks.

Seeing the 15th century usurper skulking about the shadowy environs usually associated with the machinations of Professor Moriarty or Mr. Hyde takes some adjustment, but historical accuracy isn’t a paramount concern here. The real-life British monarch’s reputation may have been somewhat rehabilitated by scholars since Shakespeare’s time, but Lane Davies’ interpretation is thankfully free of redeeming qualities that would only diminish one of the most perfectly realized and forward-looking villains Shakespeare created.

In contrast with the most familiar film portrayals (Laurence Olivier’s reptilian misanthrope or Ian McKellen’s power-hungry fascist), Davies presents the black sheep of the House of York as a creature who delights in villainy for its own sake. Clad in his stovepipe hat and black Victorian garments, his soliloquies garishly lighted from foot lamps below, Davies gives us Richard-as-Snidely Whiplash.

As Richard eliminates everyone who stands in his way to the throne, the more outrageous his behavior, the greater his glee. Davies especially shines when wooing the widow (Jane Longenecker) of Richard’s slain rival beside her husband’s corpse, pitting his brother King Edward (Richard Winterstein) against his other brother (Allan Hunt), and enlisting a hapless assassin (Dale Adrion) to murder his princely nephew (Joe Walker).

Richard’s hump and withered arm do little to undercut Davies’ tall, imperious bearing; despite his deformity, this is still a man of royal birth. Even at his most nefarious, Davies’ portrayal retains a sly, mischievous edge that never fails to engage. His late brother’s wife (Julia Duffy) recognizes his evil yet still finds herself hypnotized into compliance, like the prey of a poisonous snake. Marc Silver provides a suitably worm-like accomplice as Buckingham. Anne Lockhart makes the most of her limited appearances as the embittered, wine-swilling Queen Mother who heaps scorn on her brood for their incompetence as well as their greed.

The large supporting cast varies in audibility and mastery of scansion, but the story is easy to follow -- no small feat given the numbing complexity of plot and character that can make this one of Shakespeare’s less accessible plays.

Director Combs, best known for his work in the sci-fi/horror genre, is no stranger to creating moody ambience, but the obviously scaled-down production values (compared to previous festival seasons) under-serve the gothic conceit, which cries out for fog, eerie music and more elaborate lighting.

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‘Richard III’

Where: Kingsmen Park at California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks

When: 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday and July 22-24

Ends: July 24

Price: $10 to $65

Info: (805) 493-3455

Running time: 2 hours, 25 minutes