PLAYS : King Lear
OK ok, I know I've seen a little to many plays in the last few weeks, but I really wanted to see this; I've never seen a production of King Lear that I liked (they've all been too avant garde, which might be ok if you already appreciate the story) so when I heard that RSC had done one I leapt at the opportunity.
And what a rewarding leap that was. While RSC can be accused of being unimaginative and conservative, sometimes resulting in boring pap only fit for school groups to study, this was a good, clear production. The language was excellent - I always understood what people were saying and what was going on.
Excellent performances all round, the transformation of Old Tom into his sane demeanour a highlight of the production (I didn't even know - a great surprise!). Lear (played by Corin Redgrave) was suitably manic, and sympathetic in later parts of the play. Gloucester was likable too; his pain and sorrow showing in his every move. Kent was an excellent King's man, though I have to admit to not being convinced he was needed for the production. Edmund was sexy and evil, and utterly convincing - no wonder the sisters fall for him! All the sisters were a little 2 dimensional, and Cordelia's whinney voice annoyed me, but somewhere at the end Lear mentions it so I guess it has to be that way.
And what a play! So much irony, so many layers, no wonder academics love it. I wouldn't say it's the best play ever from an enjoyment point of view; in this production at least, I wasn't moved by the final tragic moments (King Lear drags Cordelia in, which made her more 'corpse' like than human) and the very difficult premise of Cordelia being thrown out was also not pulled off.
I loved the main ideas (as I identified them and can remember, I'm sure there are more); the relationship between parents an children, the complex issue of going mad (from senility or other reasons), the cycle of fate (as in bastards end up at the bottom, and royalty at the top) and another one I can't think of at the moment!!
Anyway, a good, effective production of an excellent play. I am thrilled to have seen it.
And what a rewarding leap that was. While RSC can be accused of being unimaginative and conservative, sometimes resulting in boring pap only fit for school groups to study, this was a good, clear production. The language was excellent - I always understood what people were saying and what was going on.
Excellent performances all round, the transformation of Old Tom into his sane demeanour a highlight of the production (I didn't even know - a great surprise!). Lear (played by Corin Redgrave) was suitably manic, and sympathetic in later parts of the play. Gloucester was likable too; his pain and sorrow showing in his every move. Kent was an excellent King's man, though I have to admit to not being convinced he was needed for the production. Edmund was sexy and evil, and utterly convincing - no wonder the sisters fall for him! All the sisters were a little 2 dimensional, and Cordelia's whinney voice annoyed me, but somewhere at the end Lear mentions it so I guess it has to be that way.
And what a play! So much irony, so many layers, no wonder academics love it. I wouldn't say it's the best play ever from an enjoyment point of view; in this production at least, I wasn't moved by the final tragic moments (King Lear drags Cordelia in, which made her more 'corpse' like than human) and the very difficult premise of Cordelia being thrown out was also not pulled off.
I loved the main ideas (as I identified them and can remember, I'm sure there are more); the relationship between parents an children, the complex issue of going mad (from senility or other reasons), the cycle of fate (as in bastards end up at the bottom, and royalty at the top) and another one I can't think of at the moment!!
Anyway, a good, effective production of an excellent play. I am thrilled to have seen it.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home