Reviews

King Lear (Tour – Salford)

As you enter the Lowry to settle down to watch Michael Grandage‘s sweeping epic version of the Shakespeare classic King Lear starring Derek Jacobi, you can sense the excitement and anticipation in the air. The audience expectations are met from the opening scene onwards as this Donmar production oozes quality. If you have a ticket this week, you are in for a once in a lifetime treat.

The small, intimate Warehouse stage in Convent Garden may be replaced with the vast Lyric theatre stage in Salford, but what remains is a chilling, funny and dark tale, as we witness a family decaying before our very eyes. We begin with an amusing scene featuring Jacobi’s King testing how much his daughters love him. From here on, this perfectly pitched  production provides a showcase for some very talented actors to shine.

Gina McKee as Goneril is quite mesmerising as she changes gear throughout, and along with the scheming Regan (Justine Mitchell) they provide the audience with restraint and horror in equal measures. Ron Cook as the fool is also excellent bringing much needed humour to the piece. Although, Jacobi too also provides much hilarity, as he plays Lear like a petulant schoolboy, constantly craving attention. This renders many of the later scenes incredibly poignant as the King descends rapidly into a flux state of loneliness and fear.

Christopher Oram‘s set is bare, yet striking. One scene in particular featuring blood splattered walls is highly effective and the stark set design compliment the shock effect of witnessing random acts of violence, highlighting the dog-eat-dog nature of this frightful family.

Jacobi’s Lear is funny, frighteningly familiar (to anyone who has seen the onset of illness in an older loved one) – yet he imbues this iconic character with a fresh approach to the material and never once reverts to cliched shouting for effect, as have many others who have played this king of parts.

Compelling, gripping and a must see event – Granage’s Lear is the North West’s theatrical event of the year and with good reason.

It may be standing room only but beg the Lowry for a ticket!