John Bell appears as King Lear, a slightly insecure man who, upon divvying up his estate amongst his 3 daughters, requires that they tell him one after the other how much they love him. Cordelia, the youngest and Lear's favourite, feels that she cannot put into words how much she loves him, believing that it is her actions that speak louder. Lear, pissed off that he didn't get the dotage he wanted, boots her out and instantly disowns her - much to her horror. The other sisters (Regan and Goneril) - played magnificently by Leah Purcell (who looks like an Avenger under her royal dress what with her purple thigh high boots and purple briefs!) and Jane Montgomery Griffiths (most nasty with her make-up and lanky stalking across the stage) - look on in satisfaction, such it is that they now receive a larger chunk of the King's kingdom. Cordelia is somewhat saved by the King of France who has taken a bit of a shining to the sweetest of the three sisters. And off she departs (for a while).
We are then thrown into a web of intrigue with Edgar and Edmund feuding (Edmund = hot as the devilish bastard son of Gloucester), and some serious deceipt working its magic on Gloucester. Edgar departs, and transforms to Mad Tom - scampering about in soiled undies (most off-putting) and dirt - so as to avoid detection from soldiers prowling about looking for the alleged traitor. King Lear, annoyed at his treatment by his greedy daughters, departs in a rage. And then everything starts to get messy. I'm not sure if you are familiar with the story, but King Lear is a fantastic story of greed, sibling rivalry, jealousy, lust, familial loyalty and good old fashioned battles of right vs wrong. Not to give away the ending, but in true Shakespearian form, it is all rather bleak and bloody and tearful in the end.
The performances last night were fabulous - the Fool played with such energy and fun by an elderly gent that every little heart swooned for him. The evil sisters embodied their characters, and Edmund created a contemptible, yet-lust-worthy, jealous brother with aplomb. When Shakespeare is done well (i.e. your attention is captured for the full 3 solid hours of the performance) you leave feeling as though you've been through the wringer - emotionally and intellectually. But you also feel smarter. 5 Stars from me.
Some famous King Lear quotes:
* "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child!" - (Act I, Scene IV).
* "I am a man more sinned against than sinning". - (Act III, Scene II).
* "My love's more richer than my tongue". (Act I, Scene I).
* "Nothing will come of nothing." King Lear Quote (Act I, Scene I).
* "Have more than thou showest, speak less than thou knowest, lend less than thou owest". - ( Quote Act I, Scene IV). [Note: A guide to living]
* "The worst is not, So long as we can say, 'This is the worst.' " . King Lear Quote (Act IV, Scene I).
* "We are not the first Who with best meaning have incurred the worst" (Act 5, Scene 3).
Shakespeare was such a modern sage. Every play he writes is bursting with wisdom that is is applicable to today. It never fails to gobsmack me.
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