Your reviewer completely missed the point. This is by no means the definitive Lear, nor is it attempting to be. What it does is to take risks, some of which come off and some of which don't - which is what makes it a thought-provoking production.
Kent as the second Fool. Yes - and the reason for this has to be that he is trying to find a way to continue to advise Lear after his banishment. He's seen what the Fool is able to get away with, and figures that if he behaves like him, he will also be "all-licensed". Of course, it doesn't work like that, and when he tries it on with Cornwall, he's punished.
As for Lear taking everything as a joke - well, that can work too. It shows how distanced from the reality of his situation and the consequences of his actions he has become. It's a shame that your reviewer presents this as the only way that Lear responds to the events of the first half of the play, because it's simply not true.
Edgar, meanwhile, is no Fool. Unconventionally making his appearance in a childish way, playing at soldiers, he's not the foppish floppy-shirted effeminate we might expect, but the energy gives us more of a reason to believe him as the masked avenger he becomes by the end of the play. And it still allows for the character development he needs, as he grows up and out of his game-playing and role-playing to become a serious King.
As for Gloucester's behaviour towards his sons "encouraging sympathy towards his subsequent blinding"...well, that's just silly.
Not perfect...but a worthwhile, enjoyable and powerful Lear.
Glyn - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.255.241.252)
08 Nov 02
THE REVIEW BELOW IS FOR THE YOUNG VIC PRODUCTION. - USER: Whatsonstage.com
05 Nov 02
Well, most of you loved it or hated it. I'm stuck in the middle. The acting was superb, especially Fool, but the modern setting just removed any credibility for me. Lear was also good but were the three girls really his daughters? I was too distracted to get into it! - USER: Whatsonstage.com
05 Nov 02
re review -
It might interest some of the people who haven't visited, or read reviews of this King Lear, to note that The Times and Telegraph,(tho'not The Guardian)came to the same conclusion and gave this show one-star and for the same reasons - the weekend reviews aren't out yet. It is ludicrous to give students for their showcase production such a difficult, demanding play when their age and inexperience mitigates again them. It is not re-interpretation that is the problem but how you re-interpret surely? Take liberties with the staging and even text of a play by all means - e.g Kurosawa's films on Macbeth, Lear are wonderful - but what about being true to the spirit of the play - incidentally, the review said it was played for laughs, not that it was a comedy. - USER: Whatsonstage.com
12 Oct 02
I agree with the comment not with the review. When I saw Schofield on stage as Lear in the 1960s, his interpretation was criticised as being extreme and avant-garde. It's odd to see this fuddy-duddy old reviewer now regarding it as canonical. This is a brilliant production. Please Terri, do try to get someone to review the Stratford shows who has something pertinent to say to a 21st century readership. - USER: Whatsonstage.com
11 Oct 02
Reviews rarely make me angry, but this one does. It’s a disgrace. Whatsonstage.com reviewers usually bring a knowledge of the modern theatre to their task, but this is so old-fashioned and blinkered to defy belief. Sure the production is modern, ground-breaking and cutting edge. It’s is a brilliant piece of direction. It’s clearly built from workshops and improvisation. The radical re-interpretation of roles like Edmund and Albany is ignored by the reviewer. If the reviewer really thought that the action he describes was funny then I despair for him. Indeed, the despair of the empty comedy routines bring out the true tragedy of the play in a new and heart-rending way. - USER: Whatsonstage.com
11 Oct 02
An exciting night, the vitality and talent of the cast is wonderful to watch. Innovative direction.
Why is your reviewer such a begrudger? we had a great evening. - USER: Whatsonstage.com
10 Oct 02
I almost totally disagree with your review of Lear at Sratford. I worried how young actors could pull it off but those worries soon disappear. The young man playing Lear is magnificant and it will be very interesting toi see how he progresses. Some of the "crowd" scenes show the benfitis of the extra rehersal time. My only quibble would be to agree with Michael Billington that the youth of the actors probably lessens the mad scenes but otherwise it is powerful and thrilling. Brian Wright PS I have seen Schofield as Lear - USER: Whatsonstage.com
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