KING LEAR is quite vain + brutal and dark. Royal vanity and the refusal to see the true nature of the deceit, greed and family betrayal by his two daughters, leads to his downfall and exile into the wilderness. After losing everything, only then and just too late, does KING LEAR realise the actual whole truth. KING LEAR is a tragedy that looks at aspects of dementia, age, insanity, homelessness, and family politics, and today is just as powerful and relevant.
Gulielmus Shakspere’s KING LEAR is THAT visceral play, that each and every actor/director does not take on lightly, and is one of his darkest plays. Exploration of the experiences from the many-layered back-stories, including also its powerful healing messages for love and forgiveness.
The power of performance is required, to deal with the sheer extremity of the existential ideas as uncovered perfectly, in this extraordinary drama. Whilst this KING LEAR is highly entertaining, it is a tragedy play, however the audience do not live out the tragedy, because you only observe the tragedy, and the experience allows you to consider your thoughts to give love and forgiveness, to others.
Special mention for the extraordinary performance delivered by Luke Berman as Earl of Kent. Tim Baker’s performance as Fool is very memorable. Well deserved praise for the diverse casting of the leads and the ensemble. The show has a stark design aesthetic, with minimal visual distraction. This quite superb production of KING LEAR, is taking place on the 460th birthday of William Shakespeare. Highly Recommended.
THANKS TO – Illawarra Production Services, Wollongong City Council Cultural Services small cultural grants program, for the new rostrum.
DATES –
Friday 19th April 2024 until Saturday 27th April 2024.
LOCATION –
The Phoenix Theatre
24 Bridge Street, Coniston NSW 2500
TICKETS – https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1170735
INFORMATION – https://www.facebook.com/the.phoenix.theatre/
STARRING –
King Lear . . . Lajos Hamers
Goneril . . . Alexandra Afflick
Duke of Albany . . . Richard Bromwich
Goneril . . . Gillian Meers
Duke of Cornwall . . . Andrew Gobran
Cordelia . . . Kate Allen
Fool . . . Tim Baker
Earl of Kent . . . Luke Berman
Oswald . . . Ioannis Vorrias
Gloucster . . . Cathy Bates
Edgar . . . Thomas Roberts
Edmund . . . Thomas Petersen
Bedlam / Curran . . . Ben Rayner
Bedlam / King of France . . . Jayden Brett
Bedlam / Duke of Burgundy . . . Brett Osseweyer
Bedlams ensemble . . . Maddi Ferrier, August Turnbull, Ella Bradey, Byron Schipp, Frankie Lucke, Taleigha Redfen
Crew + Production
Mise en Scène . . . Steen
Sound and Lighting . . . Zachary Hanlon Thomas Gray, Ben Spencer, Rhys Ferrier
Music . . . Sam Ferrier
Movement . . . Flower Curran, Billie Harris
Stage Manager . . . Abraham Mahamid
Publicity . . . Nick Lewis
IF YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND MY ARGUMENT, AND YOU DECLARE – it is Greek to me, you are quoting Shakespeare. If you claim to be more sinned against than sinning, you are quoting Shakespeare. IF you act more in sorrow than in anger, if your wish is father to the thought, if your lost property has vanished into thin air, you are quoting Shakespeare. If you have ever refused to budge an inch or suffered from green-eyed jealousy, if you have played fast and loose, if you have been tongue-tied – a tower of strength – hoodwinked or in a pickle, if you have knitted your brows – made a virtue of necessity, insisted on fair play – slept not one wink – stood on – danced attendance on your lord and master laughed yourself into stitches, had short shrift – cold comfort, or too much of a good thing, if you have seen better days, or lived in a fool’s paradise, why, be that as it may, the more fool you, for it is a foregone conclusion that you are as good luck would have it, quoting Shakespeare. IF you think it is early days and clear out bag and baggage, if you think it is high time, and that that is the long and short of it, if you believe that the game is up, and that truth will out, even if it involves your own flesh and blood, if you lie low till the crack of doom because you suspect foul play, if you have teeth set on edge at one fell swoop – without rhyme or reason, then to give the devil his due if the truth were known for surely you have a tongue in your head, you are quoting Shakespeare. Even if you bid me good riddance and send me packing, if you wish I was dead as a doornail, if you think I am an eyesore a laughing stock – the devil incarnate – a stony-hearted villain – bloody-minded, or a blinking idiot, then by Jove – O Lord – tut, tut! – For goodness’ sake – what the dickens – but me no buts – it is all one to me, FOR YOU ARE QUOTING SHAKESPEARE . . .
